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Punch on: Open thread 29/11/2010

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

29 Nov 05:00am

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Filed under: Open Thread, Prohibition, United States

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US Federal authorities began to enforce prohibition laws across the country on this day in 1922, banning nearly every aspect of dealing with the production, sale and consumption of liquor.

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    • S.L says:

      04:57pm | 29/11/10

      Eric for all the subjects you write about I will remember you for the link to this….........thank you!

    • annie says:

      05:35am | 29/11/10

      i see the british police have arrested a 15 year old girl for burning the koran on utube and is facing prison, but do nothing about muslims burning a large poppy on rememberance day parade in London holding signs death to all british troops. i wonder how long it will be before we start getting this sort of rubbish here. I see three more boats arrived over the weekend full of young men who will all claim to be under 18 and therefore be allowed to bring out their parents and siblings at our expense! Its great having a zombie labor government in place looking after our needs.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      06:55am | 29/11/10

      Annie ,  a bit of faith based fear mongering?
      Strange argument - unfair for the girl to be nabbed ( probaly correct)
      BUT those evil muslims burnt a flower, so should be charged?
      You want freedom of speech only applied to situations you find acceptable ?
      Please explain the link between yur London story and the boats?
      Oh, I see, they may be Muslims? so we need to be afraid?
      And whats more, these same asylum seekers will want to bring their relos out, and start burning poppies as well.?
      Yes Annie, be afraid, very afraid.

    • fairsfair says:

      12:45pm | 29/11/10

      ummm T.Chong - the poppy may just be a flower, but it certainly means a whole lot to a whole lot of other people. You say that “You want freedom of speech only applied to situations” that is what Annie is calling out… The burning of one thing that represents a lot is a jailable offence, but the sparking of another is accepted as a socially accepted protest? Bottom line is - burning anything is bad. However you and your labor chronies will ignore the underlying social currents of this all with smart arse responses and just put a blanket ban on fire. There, fixed.

    • Whisperer says:

      07:20am | 29/11/10

      Is it just me or do grandchildren of today have little affiliation with grandparents and a total lack of respect and hard work they have achieved over the years ?

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      08:39am | 29/11/10

      Go to a famous quotes site. Younguns disrespecting the elders has been a much commented reality since Adam was a boy - in fact didnt God dis Adam and Eve for not showing enough respect by getting it on together ?
      Disrepect of what ever sacred cow is as old as society, probaly not just an occurence of the 21st century.

    • Reg says:

      08:47am | 29/11/10

      Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.

      Reg, Chapter 1 Verse 1.

    • iain m says:

      07:36am | 29/11/10

      you got it mr chong its about the changing face and cuture that has made Aussie a great and safe place to live, if we follow the european model of muticulturalism we will eventually end up with trains and buses being bombed in the name of that peaceful religion islam.

      And i also guess its about double standards, a schoolgirl burns a book and gets arrested. then supporters of terrorism defile the symbol of those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. people who if able would gladly kill all unbeleivers unwilling to change to once agin that religion of peace.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      08:53am | 29/11/10

      “Supporters of terrorism”, so if people protest against war, they must therefore support terrorism?
      Please explain how you KNOW this is the case.?
      Same old argument - ALL muslims are bad because of the extreme elements, yet funnily enough guilt by association is not extended to all christians when a christian nut job ( eg McVeigh)  do any thing.
      Are ALL Jews blamed for the unhinged violent hatred spewed out by the Zionist settlers? Of course not, nor should they be, yet uniquely alll muslims are held accountable for the actions of extremists.
      Double standards at play there ian m ?

    • Reg says:

      09:28am | 29/11/10

      Australia was made a safe place to live by being further away than anywhere else except New Zealand or Terra del Fuago, but who’d want to live there?  Not for a while anyway. Even the Llama’s spit at the idea.

    • BobbyDan says:

      07:36am | 29/11/10

      We made a decission some months ago that due to our failing health, that we would sell up all of our modest property holdings (1 house and years of accumulated junk). And move on to enjoying our last few years by visiting all the places we ment to see and catch up with friends.

      I posted a remark on The PUNCH about our plan and asked for comments about finding a worthy (young) person who would love this 70+ yo home and selling at below market value to give this person a start. Or sell to any person, probably an investor in the rental market who would eventually tear the old place down and build Units on the land.

      For those interested, we found a working mum with three kids that was looking for a home that she could call her own and bring up the kids in. Her all up budget was $200,000 (including her legal costs). This left her purchasing power of about $193,000, we did the sums and screwed our agent for discounts on fees and commissions, so we could have enough to fulfill our dream and importantly give someone a leg up in life. We had a minor financial loss, but as pre-baby boomers, so what, we gained a friend.

      Mel and the kids will take possession on the 02/01/2011, we will be on the track that day. Waving “Good Bye” to our lovely old house and new very best friends, who have promised to keep in touch and most importantly Love the home.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      08:16am | 29/11/10

      Thats a sweet story Bobby Dan. The world needs more of this sort of thing.

    • NicoleG says:

      08:34am | 29/11/10

      I just knew you’d do that BobbyDan, because it’s clear that you are an extremely caring, nice person. You have lost a fair bit of money, but you have given someone a chance to live a dream and raise her children. Well done to you sir. You have restored my faith that good people still exist. I can see a lot of good karma coming your way.  smile

    • Grumpy says:

      11:20am | 29/11/10

      Bobbydan..your posts are always great. Good luck with your trip.

    • fairsfair says:

      12:52pm | 29/11/10

      I just got goosebumps bobbydan. Thanks for sharing. This is a gesture that will not be forgotton by more than just Mel and the kids. You have to believe that good fortune will again shine on you in future. I am far from spiritual or religious but I do believe that eveything happens for a reason and good deeds to not go unrecognised in the long run.  I wish I owned a removal company as I would shift your stuff to NSW for free. I love the premise of that movie “Pay it Forward” and I wish that that sort of thing happened more in life.

      Thanks!

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:15pm | 29/11/10

      Bobby Dan…....well done sir.

    • BobbyDan says:

      02:50pm | 29/11/10

      I will keep you all posted on our movements, probably on the road by week 1 of 2011, it is a bit hot to travel then but will start in the early mornings and find a cool pub bar/aircon over nighter about 2 pm.
      If you see a Silver Grey 4 x 4 with WA Rego plates and two old wrinkles waving thats us. On the back will be “WE love The PUNCH” and a silly waving hand on a spring its with the nodding dog in the box marked 1960 + fun stuff.
      Off to the WACA and the Sheffied Shield (sponcered by Whitt Boxes? better than a milk company anyway).

    • Richard says:

      03:25pm | 29/11/10

      Bwahahaha!

      Sorry… no, that was a lovely thing to do, but (snigger) I just can’t help but foresee the day 18 months from now when that single mum rues entering debt-servitude to buy a house “below market-value” that has since plummeted to below the (discounted) price she paid for it in the first place.

      Don’t get me wrong BobbyDan, I think you made a smart choice, and earned someone’s (temporary) gratitude as well which is always nice if your into that sort of thing, but the property bust is just about upon us, and anyone who buys now is an absolute prize-turkey.

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:51pm | 29/11/10

      Great story Bobby and well done. You would be one of the very very very few people with the gumption to do such and I applaud you and your missus.

      If you have net access while you travel you should think about starting up a Blog. It costs you nothing and takes all of about 5 seconds to setup. Then whenever you can you can just log on, post what you’ve seen or been up to, upload a picture or 9 and share it with the world.

      That way you can let the family, friends and fellow Punchers know what you’ve been up to, where you’ve been and where you are off to.

      Have fun!

    • BobbyDan says:

      08:11pm | 29/11/10

      @Richard: Have a look at the Collie Mail and have a look at what is about to happen in the town. And ask yourself where could I buy a property cheap, if I was a local and wanted to stay in the town forever.

      @The RealDave: I have a Blog Site and will post its identity later on The PUNCH.

    • annie says:

      07:37am | 29/11/10

      i guess you wouldnt understand tchong you just enjoy the freedoms a christian country provides us all.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      08:43am | 29/11/10

      Annie I understand an attempt at dog whistling.
      Democracy and freedoms arent the exclsive domains of christianity.
      BTW, Australia is a secular society, not a christian theocracy.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:16pm | 29/11/10

      Christian values like say “I was a stranger and you let me in?”

    • Macca says:

      07:44am | 29/11/10

      Whilst Newspoll has been the most accurate polling organisation in recent times, consistently calling elections down to less than a single percentage point, A Newsltd editor has not correctly called an election in a long time.

      The Herald Sun called for John Brumby to be returned as Premier last friday. That looks highly unlikely to happen right now.

      At the Federal election, all Newsltd papers except the one from South Australia, called on The Coalition to win, and failed.

      And in NSW, Penberthy wrote that the NSW government had become tired and uselss and deserved the boot. Somehow, 3 premiers later, they are still in power.

      So, I’m just curious, as to how the most widely circulated tabloid newspapers in the country, whose polling arm is so consistently on the money, continue to pick the wrong party (lets face it, it’s a 50-50) in their election editorials.

      And when was the last time that a NewsLtd editorial correctly called the election result?

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      08:18am | 29/11/10

      Actually Macca I checked the figures on the weekend when Persephone was screaming “Bias!” all over the place. Out of 12 News Ltd publications there were 6 for the Coaltion and 6 for Labor.

    • Adam Diver says:

      08:35am | 29/11/10

      Do they call the result or try to influence through their editorial? I wa under the impression they gave a suggestion of who should win and why, as oppossed to who will win.

      Feel free to correct me.

    • Macca says:

      09:31am | 29/11/10

      @TimB, was that for the Federal Election? I thought most (all?) editorials for the Vic state elecion backed the ALP.

      @Adam Diver, yes, you’re description of it is correct. So, what does that say about the influence of editorials when the most widely circulated tabloids consistently recommend the party that ends up losing?

    • Macca says:

      07:45am | 29/11/10

      Where’s Nosthow after the claim that Brumby would romp home in Victoria this weekend? Tears in the beers?

      Reply

    • NicoleG says:

      08:36am | 29/11/10

      @Macca, you can find him in denial on Mal Farr’s article. It’s sad really.

    • Adam Diver says:

      08:36am | 29/11/10

      There is no satisfaction here on the punch. I am still dirty that Perse went missing when K Rudd got knifed. Nosthow will be back in a week talking about budgie smugglers and pretending none of this ever happened.

    • MarK says:

      09:52am | 29/11/10

      “talking about budgie smugglers”

      And poor Ted goes for his weekly swim in his budgies like he has done forever probably. Waiting for the howls to start.

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:57pm | 29/11/10

      I’m still here, although I never made any bold predictions given that, thank christ, I am not a victorian wink

      I do however love this sweeping talk of mandates, floggings, brand Labor being ‘on the nose’ and al that guff…..when you look at it across the country, despite years of labor incumbency everywhere, downturn in the economy, rising power, water, interest rates etc etc the Libs still can’t get a clean win. They got pipped out Federally and have only just managed to squeeze by in Victoria byt he skin of their teeth.

      If Labor is ‘on the nose’ as the rAbbott says, who lost to that stinking brand if I recall, then brand Liberal isn’t smelling much fresher is it? And thats BEFORE it even gets the reigns in its hands.

    • Amy Sturt says:

      08:00am | 29/11/10

      “Australia’s Best Conversation” became “A Lineup of People Amy Doesn’t Agree With” today, and I’ve already got a new PB with a 400 word comment. 

      It’s going to be a long day…

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      09:30am | 29/11/10

      400 words is like my opening paragraph.

      You can do better I know you can raspberry

    • NicoleG says:

      11:14am | 29/11/10

      I feel your pain Amy. I’m copping it left, right and centre. And I just got called a bimbo!

    • Amy Sturt says:

      10:28pm | 29/11/10

      Bimbo?  Ridiculous.  It’s like being “nasty” because you have a different opinion.  Honestly, I do think sometimes comments like those are published to embarrass the writer more than to consider the standards of the website. 

      The response I received was just as well considered: “Do you work for channel 10 or something?”  Ugh.

    • Macca says:

      08:31am | 29/11/10

      Kudos to a shit-hot Punch today. Good reading.

      Reply

    • Reg says:

      09:02am | 29/11/10

      There must have been a lot of grumpy “upper set” over the week-end with the NAB machines refusing to acknowledge their presence. No doubt they just scratched off a sliver or two from the gold bars they keep under their pillows for just such emergencies.

      Do you think the banks would had put their bonanza on the international market for a couple of days or just left it sitting there waiting? Paper money’s not really money at all I suppose until it slips through the slot.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      10:33am | 29/11/10

      What on Earth are you on about?

      This affected a lot more people than just the “upper set”. A mate of mine was broke all weekend because of the NAB’s cock-up, he’s you’re typical blue collar casual laborer.

      How you managed to turn this incident into an snide attack on the upper class I have no idea.

    • Reg says:

      11:03am | 29/11/10

      Well I’m sure you could have loaned him a couple of tins of baked beans to tide him over his failure to plan.

      Consider the number of promissory notes and the cabbages that would be changing hands if they all went down for a week. Woolworth’s might even have to print its own money.  The NAB represents itself as one of the exclusive banks so what may await us when the more common of them fails to present.

    • fairsfair says:

      01:04pm | 29/11/10

      Clearly this is a generational thing. My dad goes everywhere with cash and is the only person I regularly see with hundred dollar notes… because he goes into the bank to make a withdrawal.

      I hardly ever have cash and like most people today rely of EFTPOS and Credit. I have not set foot inside a bank for years. Also, a lot of people live from pay to pay. I am one of them to a degree as I have electronic transfers out of my spending accounts to stop me from being a spend thrift. I have no need for cash and probably take out $50 a week to cover small expenses like the odd coffee, tuckshop day and maybe a magazine when I walk past the shop of an afternoon. Heaps of people do the very same thing that I do each and every week… Thanks Reg - we are all complete and utter wankers it seems.

      Thankfully I was not affected by this, but how would my situation open me up to mockery if I was left with no way of buying my groceries on Satruday afternoon? Also how is is the bank’s fault? It is just one of those things that people have to deal with. Annoying, but hardly intentional by the NAB and just one of the consequences of being able to manage money so easily 99.999999% of the time.

      Reg, the fact you have a money clip (probably a crank to start your car) and appear to be the one with the nose pointed to the sky - makes you look like a jerk.

    • Reg says:

      09:20pm | 29/11/10

      Here you are mate, just so you can get yourself all tooled up for the occasion. http://www.2012countdownclockstore.com/index.html

      Of course you are free to dismiss the possibility and so are the banks but I can assure you that if you think a foil helmet will help, you’re mistaken.  I can also tell you that when the Yanks set of that bomb in space in the mid-sixties, communication in the Southern Hemisphere shut down for hours and compared to the Sun, that bomb was a toy.
      (This is also why the stopped doing the space explosions and went underground.) 

      It looks as if we’ve got a good 18 months or more. But that’s not quite as bad as Newton’s decoded prediction of the Second Coming in 2060.  Let’s hope Jesus brings his own crank handle ‘cos he sure ain’t gettin’ mine.

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      09:19am | 29/11/10

      I want my EDay car now. Two years is too long to wait….

      Reply

    • thatmosis says:

      09:21am | 29/11/10

      U2 or rather Bono is the biggest hypocrite that ever walked. here we have a bloke that says we are hurting the planet with our overuse of carbon based fuels and we see a concert going world wide that ultilises 6 x 747 jets and 55 semis to move the equipment each time it moves. How much CO2 is this clown putting into the atmosphere daily, more than a small city. People hang off every word this clown makes but he may talk the talk but certainly doesnt walk the walk, another case of some overblown self important idiot that thinks he a legend in his own lunchtime whereas in reality he is just and overpaid singer.

      Reply

    • Reg says:

      10:21am | 29/11/10

      You’ve got to admit it, if it takes all that to reveal his talent then there wasn’t much there in the first place.  This would make it the piscatorial waste of oxygen.

    • Zeta says:

      10:01am | 29/11/10

      Wikileaks diplomatic cables are out.

      Is it wrong to want to take the whole day off and read them at home with a bottle of whiskey?

      Reply

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:17pm | 29/11/10

      Single malt or rubbish?

    • Zeta says:

      01:47pm | 29/11/10

      Lark Distillery’s Cask Strength single malt. You can taste the peat and the cranky Tasmanian who mined it.

      The perfect sipping liquor for salacious diplomatic gossip.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      02:26pm | 29/11/10

      Then I won’t tell you its wrong to want to be home with the good stuff. I always did like the fact the peat came through some of the Isla malts so will check that one out.

    • TChong says:

      10:06am | 29/11/10

      Why wont the Poms collapse, so we can win the Ashes, just like it seemed to be going to happen on Day 1 with Siddles magic 6 for. ?
      Poms retain the trophy via draws? a sad possibility.

      Reply

    • BobbyDan says:

      11:20am | 29/11/10

      TChong: The question really is, has Ponting put a massive amount on the outcome of the test with the Indian Bookmakers, knowing he will probably be sacked as Captian soon and needs to top up his retirement income.
      Clarke and Johnson too, by bad batting and fielding and Johno with his bowling.
      Bollinger will only have to play his usual game in Perth today at the WACA to get rid of Johnson. Clarke should be a man and admit his back is killing him. And the ACB and the Selectors should all be hanging thier heads in shame as Australia is routed by thier bad decissions.
      I am taking the day off from painting my house now it is sold, and taking the missus up for the afternoon session in Perth.

    • TChong says:

      12:00pm | 29/11/10

      How good Cook and Trott ?  Very bloody…, is the answer.
      Long, long day awaits.
      As for Ponting, well, cricket, like all Punchers personal integrity is above reroach.

    • Richard says:

      03:31pm | 29/11/10

      Australia’s wet-sock bowling attack couldn’t knock over 10-month old toddler. All we had was Siddle’s passion on the 1st day, but I predicted that it would wear off by the 2nd session, and now we’ve got nothing. sad indictment.

    • BobbyDan says:

      07:55pm | 29/11/10

      On mobile notebook:
      Almost at the cricket in time to see Bollinger bowl 3/32 and Horricks do very well too.
      Actually we cheated and went to a mates place in Mandurah, as he always has a cold beer, a bed ready, cooks great Blue Swimmer Crabs and gets wireless reception of the Cricket that we do not get in the bush.
      Robins in the spar looking out at the ocean and G. and I thinking of the next beer and a crab/prawn/crayfish mixed salad for tea.
      Good bye Johnson, Clarke and Ponting.

    • Terry Wright says:

      11:04am | 29/11/10

      “US Federal authorities began to enforce prohibition laws across the country on this day in 1922, banning nearly every aspect of dealing with the production, sale and consumption of liquor.”

      Now we have drug prohibition that repeats every single mistake we made with alcohol prohibition - only it’s in every country and magnified 1000 fold.

      Who says we learn from history?

      Reply

    • Shane says:

      03:26pm | 29/11/10

      Michael Jordan is coming to Melbourne for The Presidents’ Cup Golf.

      This is truly a good day. Funnily, I can’t remember who it was, but someone famous once said there were only three people in the 1990s capable of walking into any room and literally stopping all conversation simply through charisma: Bill Clinton, Axl Rose, Michael Jordan.

      Reply

    • Romli065 says:

      03:28pm | 29/11/10

      I just read that Leonardo DiCaprio flew to Russia to be at a “Save the Tigers” conference. Despite an engine scare on the first plane he was travelling in, and then a rerouting to Finland on a second flight because of strong headwinds, he still made it the summit. Good on him for bringing focus to this wildlife tragedy by his presence. He seems like a genuinely good person, despite the fame and celebrity.  Not to mention he’s extremely easy on the eyes smile

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      06:25pm | 29/11/10

      Well he’s been playing the hero for long enough it’s about time he showed all his paying fans what stuff he’s made of don’t yer think.
      (And as a well knowd Injun told me agin : watch yer top-not.)

      Reply
 
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