Punch on: Open thread 30/04/2012

marley says:

08:02am | 30/04/12

Agreed.  I think Nutella should have been fined for misleading advertising, but suing them is a bit like suing Maccas if you put on weight.

subotic says:

08:39am | 30/04/12

People were fooled by marketing to believe that chocolatey, hazelnutty Nutella would “nourish their children with whole grains” as “part of a balanced meal”.

“A balanced meal”?

A 6 pack of beer in one hand, cigar in the other….

adam says:

09:46am | 30/04/12

@subotic

and a nose full of speed snorted from the tip of a Bowie knife

marley says:

09:47am | 30/04/12

@subotic - you forgot the chips and tomato sauce.  Gotta keep the veggie intake up.

Kheiron says:

10:01am | 30/04/12

The Nutella ad wasn’t exactly the most factual advertisement ever created but there’s got to be some expectation of common sense, or at least independent thought, from the consumer.
They’re forced to put the ‘nutritional’ information on the jar and knowing that a chocolate spread isn’t equivalent to steamed vegetables is simple understanding I’d expect from a 3 year old.
Have we really gotten to the point where people mindlessly believe the spin they see between the latest Simpson episode?
...ok, nevermind. No need to point it out.

Still, suing for being a gullible idiot should always be avoided. In fact, anyone who attempts to make such a case should be laughed at. Perhaps the fear of public ridicule might tempt some people into using their brains for a few minutes a day.

That said, Nutella was always a bit rich for me.

Ally says:

10:20am | 30/04/12

My favourite part of the Nutella ads has always been when they point out that is has “less sugar than many jams” as a good point. Not so good when you think about the fact that most jams are made with 50% sugar, not to mention all the natural sugar in the fruit.

But as an aside, does any actually use Nutella as a spread? Surely everyone just sticks a spoon in and eats it from the jar?

subotic says:

10:20am | 30/04/12

Hey MattC, ever noticed how coffee cups from fast food chains have “caution - contents may be hot” on them?

Does that answer the stupider vs. greedy debate?

Kheiron says:

10:42am | 30/04/12

Less sugar than many jams (which are primarily sugar)
Less fat than many peanut butters (which are primarily fat)
“I call it energy for learning”

You’re right. Any partly functional head trauma patient should have noticed the obvious spin. Guess it just goes to show the comparative cognitive abilities of some people.

AdamC says:

11:02am | 30/04/12

Ally, I don’t really eat Nutella, but have had nutella crepes once or twice. Highly recommended!

Kheiron, lol, those ads are coming back to me now. Seriously, some consumers are total nuff nuffs!

Troy Flynn says:

01:41pm | 30/04/12

@subotic “Does that answer the stupider vs. greedy debate?”

It would cover both wouldn’t it. If you’re greedy, well guess what, we’ve put a disclaimer on the container so you can’t sue.
If you’re stupid, guess what, we’ve put a disclaimer on the container so you can’t sue.

See, covers both stupidity and Greed

Austin Powers says:

03:49pm | 30/04/12

Mmmmm .... Nutty!

acotrel says:

07:10am | 30/04/12

@Angel
Craig Thomson smear - FIZZER !
Peter Slipper smear - FIZZER !
Tony Abbott as PM - ‘so near and yet so far’ !

A line has been crossed ! :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJEJJ2YUCU&feature=youtu.be

TimB says:

08:07am | 30/04/12

Fizzer Acotrel? She’s basically kicked Thomson out of the party in a pathetically transparent attempt to wipe the grime of the ALP.

Why now? What does she know that we don’t? Some more facts about the Thomson case about to be exposed perhaps?

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/why-is-thomson-stalling-in-rush-to-clear-his-name-20120429-1xsna.html#ixzz1tQltgPj1

Abbott as PM by the end of 2013 if not much sooner. Bank on it.

talking to himself says:

09:12am | 30/04/12

TimB
What a weirdo
First you want her to take action and when she does, you are unhappy.
Rusted on conservatives are very hard to please.

NicoleG says:

09:48am | 30/04/12

What action has she taken? She kicked him out of the Labor party in an attempt to distance herself from him. She still has his vote.

The action she should have taken was to suspend him from Parliament. But no, she needs his vote. She’s out to save her own arse. She certainly is cunning. But the majority are not as blinkered as you and can see right through her.

She is truly horrid.

AdamC says:

09:49am | 30/04/12

Gillard has jumped the shark; had the biscuit; lost her mojo. Even her Machiavellian back-rom instincts have deserted her. She could have taken this step with Thomson a year ago and avoided much of the angst and damage to her credibility.

If Rudd and Smith aren’t running numbers today, they are both morons.

TimB says:

09:52am | 30/04/12

@ ‘Talking to himself’, she should have done it a year ago. Why now?  Why did Thomson have her full support a week ago and not today? What’s changed?

We wanted her to do it *then* because it was the right thing to do. Not *now* because she was trying to save her own political hide.

Pathetic, self-serving, and insulting to the intelligence of the electorate. That’s all this is.

acotrel says:

10:03am | 30/04/12

Fizzer !! TimB.
The smears were an attempt to force an election, by changing the numbers so Abbott could block supply.  He’s too dumb to think of any other way ! Gillard still has Thomson’s vote, and Slipper is only sidelined for the minute.  FIZZER ! ! !

acotrel says:

10:08am | 30/04/12

@Nicole G
‘The action she should have taken was to suspend him from Parliament. But no, she needs his vote. She’s out to save her own arse’

Does the PM really have the power to suspend someone from parliament on a whim?  I thought it might take a vote from all sides to do that , unless it is a legal matter covered in the standing orders?

Blind Freddy says:

11:35am | 30/04/12

@NicoleG

“What action has she taken?”, you ask.

And, then.

“She kicked him out of the Labor party in an attempt to distance herself from him”, you answer.

It’s not the action YOU wanted but it is the action SHE took.

NicoleG says:

12:03pm | 30/04/12

She still gets his vote, so it’s no action at all. It’s half arsed action. I don’t care what SHE wants, I care what the majority want. But here’s 50c to call someone who gives a shit what she wants. Keep the change

Blind Freddy says:

01:12pm | 30/04/12

@NicoleG

On the last occassion when people were given a chance to vote for who they wanted (in 2010) - the majority didn’t want the Coalition.

Don says:

07:53am | 30/04/12

Who started it? All self inflicted and that is the problem. If you can’t see that then you really need to get new glasses.

Marco says:

08:05am | 30/04/12

What are you, 6 years old?

marley says:

08:09am | 30/04/12

“Who started it ?”  You sound like a kid in a school yard trying to get out of trouble by blaming the other kid.  We adults take responsibility for our own mistakes. And the ALP has made plenty. Until you behave like an adult and accept that fact, no one is going to take you seriously.

nossy says:

08:14am | 30/04/12

@acotrel you are a good soldier for the left acotrel but please note QLD spoke again on the weekend via Council elections and also the by election for the once super safe seat held by Anna Bligh and we sent the message to Labor - “GET STUFFED!” I suggest to you when the Federal election comes around we have a similar message to deliver to Labor acotrel. One bitter ex Labor man who was voted out on the weekend says the “thugs and villians” of Labor must be rooted out and cut off - never truer words spoken acotrel.

acotrel says:

08:15am | 30/04/12

@Don
You obviously never watch Abbott on TV ?

TimB says:

08:37am | 30/04/12

Even if you ignore how juvenile Acotrel’s question is, it’s hard to tell what point he’s trying to make.

Because the answer to the question ‘who started it?’ is clearly Julia Gillard.

Ben C says:

09:32am | 30/04/12

@ acotrel

Julia Gillard was the only one who could start her deceit towards the Australian people.

Julia Gillard was the only one who could start her hatefulness towards the Australian public.

Capiche?

acotrel says:

10:13am | 30/04/12

‘Because the answer to the question ‘who started it?’ is clearly Julia Gillard. ‘

Short memories or simply tailoring the truth to suit your agenda ?

acotrel says:

10:20am | 30/04/12

@BenC
Short memory, or are you simply tailoring the truth to suit your silly agenda ?

acotrel says:

10:31am | 30/04/12

@marley
You don’t get anything much more childish than the two year long LNP dummy spit ! Abbott has dragged the tone of parliamentary debate to the depths !
@NicoleG
‘She is truly horrid.’

Ben C says:

11:14am | 30/04/12

@ acotrel

Short memory? How about “the real Julia”? Was the previous incarnation a “fake Julia”, in which she was deceitful? Or is it the “real Julia” that is the deceitful one?

Julia’s actions dictate her public perception.

NicoleG says:

11:15am | 30/04/12

Wow ! ! ! You finally agree with me acotrel ! ! !

acotrel says:

12:19pm | 30/04/12

Something that all bully boys learn sooner or later:
‘what goes around comes around !’
What you are telling me is that Abbott can hand it out but can’t cop the consequences.  And when some little red headed chick swipes him over the top of his thick head, she’s a bloody bitch ?
Abbott was almost snivelling about Thomson’s vote still counting.  Perhaps if he pleaded to Julia ...... ?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!

TimB says:

01:13pm | 30/04/12

I can’t stand it anymore.

You cannot discuss things rationally with Acotrel. He is impervious to logic and reason, and his posts make little sense.

This may be a drastic move. Perhaps even a litle cruel in a schoolyard sort of way. But I seriously believe we should collectively ignore any of Acotrel’s posts that are at best trollbait, at worst, the product of a.mind that appears to be increasingly riddled with dementia. No more acknowedgement. No more responses. Maybe he’ll get the hint and start contributing properly.

What do you guys think? Doable or not?

nihonin says:

01:34pm | 30/04/12

It’s doable TimB, but it should be moderated as well.  Or do the Punch staff enjoy his little rants.  I get a laugh out of them.

Ben C says:

01:42pm | 30/04/12

I don’t know TimB, we all know acotrel can come up with something so excessively outrageous that it needs to be countered. Remember that rant about the death of his “friend” during World War II being on the hands of present-day Liberal voters?

Silent Majority says:

02:12pm | 30/04/12

“He is impervious to logic and reason, and his posts make little sense.”

One could say the same about your posts TimB or Against the Man or SKag.
Not a lot of logic or reason to see there, just partisan parroting of falsehoods with no basis in fact.

nossy says:

03:50pm | 30/04/12

@TimB no TimB not doable - we all live in a great democracy so all voices should be heard - only heard Tony Abbott remind someone of that a few days ago. The Punch should remain a forum for the left, right and centre and all in between. Keep “Punching” on Acotrel BUT be prepared to cop flak fella!

TimB says:

04:23pm | 30/04/12

Oh not saying that he can’t be heard Nossy. Just that we shouldn’t be paying any attention. It only encourages him.

Admiral Ackbar says:

05:06pm | 30/04/12

They were the best few acotrel comments I have never read.

acotrel says:

08:18am | 30/04/12

Stuffed the opposition - that’s the way to become a champion !

nossy says:

08:30am | 30/04/12

@M - brilliant performance by Stoner M - lets hope he goes on to win the title once more!

John F says:

08:43am | 30/04/12

It was fantastic race to watch, Stoners slides had me on the edge of my seat !

subotic says:

08:51am | 30/04/12

Speaking of Stoners, happy birthday Willie Nelson!

Zeta says:

09:12am | 30/04/12

@ Subotic - “You do a commerical you’re off the artistic roll call, that goes for everyone… except Willie Nelson. With a multi-million tax bill, Willie was a little… looser than the rest of us… ‘I’m sittin here eatin tacos… thinkin of the woman with the rose tattooo…’”

Dieter Moeckel says:

09:36am | 30/04/12

Yep! We need a stoner for Pm.

acotrel says:

10:43am | 30/04/12

I*‘ve been going to road race meetings since 1954,I’m an entusiast however modern superbikes leave me cold .I didn’t watch the telecast.  Apparently a lot of the guys riding the Moto3 four stroke 250s ended up on the deck ?  It looks like becoming a really great class.

patsy says:

12:17pm | 30/04/12

I’m a big Stoner fan and can’t believe that there’s not any T.V. stories to raise awareness of our Australian WORLD champion.  It’s lucky to get a mention on the news and chanel ten never advertises when it’s on. It’s so exciting to watch. Yes, he got Young Australian of the Year a while back but…..and then I was up bush for round one. Last season towards the end he was doin’  a Doohan. He was so far out front the cameras were only on the battle for 2nd and 3rd.
I’m lucky enough that my neighbour who rides to Phillip Island every year gets me a girl’s Stoner tight tee. Go Casey I want another one!

M says:

01:16pm | 30/04/12

Acotrel, the 250’s were falling down left, right and centre, but mainly because it was a damp track and they have tiny contact patches.

The Moto 2 & 3 classes have better racing than the main event IMO

nossy says:

08:56am | 30/04/12

@ZSRenn I will toast that ZSR!

AFR says:

09:44am | 30/04/12

Indeed. To celebrate I’m going to use a South African accent as much as possible in my creditors meeting starting in 15 minutes.

M says:

09:03am | 30/04/12

I voted no.

Dieter Moeckel says:

09:51am | 30/04/12

What we need is for the ALP to get on with legislation and not worry about the popularity stakes. Every party gets dis-endorsed eventually so what if its only a two term government. It’s the legislation that’s important and the majority of it will actually survive the onslaught of a new government.
A government’s effectiveness outlives its time in office. This is what balances the development of a country, its economy and the standards of living for its people. By the time the coalition gets into power, say at the next election issues will have moved on and the carbon mitigation scheme might be well embedded in international affairs.
Accept that Labor got Australia through one of the most serious world recessions in history with very few glitches. It’s not about ‘staying in power at all costs’ its about doing that a government believes is the right thing for the country and Labor has done quite well despite the continuous vitriolic attacks by the coalition Rottweiler. Unfortunately the continuous coalition attacks have influenced the essentially ignorant and unwashed indicating that propaganda is still the most powerful tool in politics overshadowing government.
On another note: Who are the people that are able to blog on this sight when most people should be at work? They must be either retired, unemployed or doing the blogging in their bosses time?
A clarification go the demography of the people commenting here might be interesting.

Fiddler says:

10:42am | 30/04/12

I say no she shouldn’t.

I’m too curious to see what happens next

Elphaba says:

11:07am | 30/04/12

I want her to be ousted.  I want her to cling on with all her might until they drop the trapdoor under her feet and let her swing.  The show is too much fun to have it end prematurely…

Admiral Ackbar says:

01:01pm | 30/04/12

I hope she doesn’t quit, I want her to be beaten properly. No doubt, if she did quit, she would make some condescending speach about how it was her decision.

TimB says:

01:45pm | 30/04/12

“I hope she doesn’t quit, I want her to be beaten properly.”

Me too, but we want it to happen sooner rather than later. Which raises an interesting question. What would you prefer from the following scenarios:

Choice One. Gillard stayson to the end of 2013, and faces a humiliating electoral defeat.

Choice Two. Gillard stands down *now* (knifed, pushed, whatever) , and in amongst the turmoil, we end up going to an early election. At which point whichever unlucky sap was awarded the ALP leadership, faces a humiliating electoral defeat.

As satisfying as it would be to watch Gillard’s concession speech on election night, I would contend you’d have to go with option two. For the sake of the country we need this government gone sooner rather than later.

Honestly I think we’re hoping for the best of both worlds. Julia stays leader but is forced to call an early election due to a no confidence motion. At which point she leads the ALP to a defeat of Queenslander proportions.

Admiral Ackbar says:

03:37pm | 30/04/12

Oh for sure TimB, I’d hate for this to be dragged on longer than is necessary. It’s be a shame if these rumours were a delay strategy to encourage LNP inaction.

Most certainly option two, the sooner the better. Although it’s too late for the carbon tax, we may be able to fix the rest of her mess yet. Although I really dislike her in every way imaginable, I wouldn’t like to see her knifed like she did Rudd or anything as it may reinforce a dangerous precedent that she has already set.

Gordon says:

11:52pm | 30/04/12

The right know only morons read the age, so logically when 84% of age readers want Julia out then clever right thinking people really want her IN…isn’t that how it works?

marley says:

09:48am | 30/04/12

If Gillard had kicked him out when the whole mess blew up, she might have shown some integrity.  Doing it now shows only desperation.

TimB says:

09:54am | 30/04/12

It doesn’t do much for the governments credibility. A token gesture, that is too little too late. The electorate sees this for what it really is.

But it does have one practical positive difference for the Coalition: As an independent, Thomson no longer gets a pair for when he’s stuck in hospital with a tummy ache.

gobsmack says:

10:06am | 30/04/12

The Prime Minister can’t remove a sitting member from Parliament.  And once a person has left a political party the member is outside the control of that party (eg Slipper and the Liberal party).

Knemon says:

11:40am | 30/04/12

“Does Julia really think that the Australian population is that stupid?”

If Gillard does think this, then she would be correct!

Draconian says:

11:41am | 30/04/12

What do we have to do to get a federal election now!  Not next year but now.

Mark G says:

04:45pm | 30/04/12

‘The Prime Minister can’t remove a sitting member from Parliament. ‘

Gobsmack,

True but a sitting member can choose to resign and my point still stands. What bloody difference does it make? It would take Thomson’s resignation from his seat to make a difference. This sacking (full extent of the PM’s power) is a token gesture. You can’t tell me that Julia isn’t aware of that. It wouldn’t surprise me if she actually told him not to resign. I would have more respect for Julia if she convinced him to resign. Its a typical Gillard half-arsed approach to things. It doesnt solve the problem and certainly doesn’t clear the cloud over the parliament.

Blind Freddy says:

04:51pm | 30/04/12

@Draconian

Have you tried crying like a baby? Oh, you have/are.

Wait for the election like the grown ups have/had to.

Gordon says:

11:55pm | 30/04/12

@draconian, you could try winning a vote on the floor of parliment, that would work.

AdamC says:

10:28am | 30/04/12

That was my first thought, too, Robert. All packaged foods have nutritional information included on their label. Assuming someone is literate and numerate, it would have been entirely obvious to them how much fat and sugar is in Nutella. If the advertisements themselves were misleading and breached the law, then a fine or equivalent seems more appropriate than compensating idiots who didn’t even bother to read the label.

Maybe all ads should include a disclaimer:

“WARNING: Advertisements are paid for by product promoters and manufacturers and may put a highly positive spin on the characteristics of the good or service being advertised.”

Kheiron says:

01:13pm | 30/04/12

Nah, screw the warning. That’s how we got into this zombie state.
“If it wasn’t safe to dive here, there’d be a sign”
“Well, it doesn’t tell me NOT to lick the plug”
“Oh, so you DON’T try to stop the chainsaw with your hands and/or genitals”

Simply stop making stupidity profitable and make it punishable.

SimpleSimon says:

12:11pm | 30/04/12

Interesting. I’m so incredibly over my government job now that I’m applying for the private sector. The bullying, the incompetence, and red tape, I’m sick of it all. It does pay pretty well though.

Mark G says:

12:13pm | 30/04/12

Tell me your not talking about the NBN company?

Zeta says:

12:42pm | 30/04/12

I once did some work for a statuatory corporation. They’re weird places to work. Like, Government, if it were run by venture capitalists. They always have nicer buisness cards than the rest of the public service. And comfy office chairs.

Look hard at their hiring system though. I know of one particular Federal agency that sub-contracts its Human Resources back to the parent agency. Then, when the applications come through, they just bin them and ask the Department to find more. This is because Departmental HR always stack the CVs of their mates on the top of the pile, and the stat corps don’t like having public service drones infiltrating their agencies.

This is a particularly big deal for any Government-Owned-Buisness offering financial services, because they pay more, and public servants like to try and get postings with them. Problem is, the GOBs will hire them, and then find out they can’t actually count.

This is why Government can’t have nice things.

Elphaba says:

12:49pm | 30/04/12

@SimpleSimon, yep, money is a motivating factor.  Like, $25K more than what I’m making now.  But the job looks fab and the organisation is awesome.  And close to home yippee!

I’ve never worked a Government job before, but we’ll see how we go!  Got to get the interview first - I think my application is pretty awesome, we’ll see.

Seriously, there is just as much bullying, incompetence and red tape in the private sector as well.  But I work in an industry notorious for big ego.

Mark G, nope, not the NBN.

SimpleSimon says:

01:12pm | 30/04/12

Fair enough, good luck to you! I work in IT, and am looking for somewhere more innovative and with passion for their products. Google, perhaps? That’d be pretty sweet.

Elphaba says:

01:25pm | 30/04/12

@Zeta, thanks for the tip.  I think I might be ok in that respect, but I will certainly keep it in mind.

We do a ‘frequent hire’ program here at work designed to help you recommend your mates for a job and get financially rewarded for it.  It’s just as prevalent in the private sector.  I missed out on an internal job here because the managers were chummy with someone outside the organisation, and they gave the job to him instead.

The place I’m applying to, promote diversity.  Like, everywhere.  It’s their whole ethos.  I know, that doesn’t mean squat at the end of the day.  However, I did ring them this morning to query a part of the application, and had a lovely chat with the woman doing the hiring.  At least she’ll remember me when the application goes through.

Simon, I reckon Google would be awesome.  I’d work for them in a heartbeat.

TimB says:

01:31pm | 30/04/12

Simon, you should try and get an ‘in’ with Valve. Check out their guide to new hires, the place sounds *insane*

http://newcdn.flamehaus.com/Valve_Handbook_LowRes.pdf

SimpleSimon says:

04:22pm | 30/04/12

@TimB - I actually saw that last Thursday(ish) and was blown away! It makes me wish I’d got more seriously in to software development. But in general, that style of working sounds incredibly liberating, and made me loath my current position just that much more.

Gordon says:

12:00am | 01/05/12

@ TimB and Simple Simon: You want to work for Valve? The perpetrators of Steam? Do want to be hated that much?

Knemon says:

12:12pm | 30/04/12

@ Dieter Moeckel - “most of the people in Australia just don’t know how our government and parliamentary system actually works”

If comments on The Punch are any guide then it appears that your observation is spot on.

marley says:

02:48pm | 30/04/12

@Dieter Moeckel - as you say, quite a lot of legislation is passed in bipartisan agreement.  So why is the ALP pushing the Dr. NO label on Abbott?  It’s no more representative of reality than anything the Coalition is coming up with.

stephen says:

03:36pm | 30/04/12

Nup.
Mouthful of banana, some cashews.
Mouthful of banana, some cashews.
Mouths full ? Yep. Then chew.
Do it over again, then drink some coffee.
That’s brekky.

On payday I splurge and eat 2 kiwi fruit and a tub of Jalna vanilla yoghurt at the same time.

ps never look into my mouth when I am eating ... never, never, ever.

Troy Flynn says:

03:58pm | 30/04/12

And a dead wallaby to sit on his head, appropriately coiffered. Rub a bit of the iron ore dust into his skin and he’d have the oompa loompa skin colour too!

marley says:

12:06pm | 30/04/12

@Lauren - herd protection.

TimB says:

01:28pm | 30/04/12

Agree HappyG, I sense a great disturbance in the Force. Same as just before Rudd got knifed in 2010, and again when Rudd challenged Gillard the other month.

It’s surprising actually, I had given her until October and officially I’m holding to that prediction, seeing as that’s the one actually based on rational logic and reasoning.

...But it’s never wise to ignore the will of the Force.

adam says:

01:30pm | 30/04/12

That does sound similar Happy, one caveat however. Everyone wants the big seat in footy to revel in the GF successes they assume will come. Who would want Gillard’s poisoned chalice at the moment? Better to “reluctantly” take it on after the coming spanking

HappyG says:

01:46pm | 30/04/12

TimB - What happened to the dogs? Should have had the polka dot pansies wrapped up before half time.If big George Rose can fool you with a side step you have serious defensive problems. The mighty Knights ( and Willy ) should be too good for Penrith tonight giving me 7 / 8 for the round.

TimB says:

02:34pm | 30/04/12

I don’t know. They’ve been doing it a lot recently. Score early, then dominate possession without actually crossing the line. Somewhere around the middle, the scores are levelled, and then they get beaten right at the end.

It’s driving me nuts. Maybe we’re really feeling the loss of our halfback.

Ben C says:

04:10pm | 30/04/12

@ TimB

How do you rate Hodkinson? I think there are plenty of better halfbacks out there, and Kris Keating isn’t really a playmaker either. Josh Reynolds looks pretty good though.

nossy says:

05:35pm | 30/04/12

@TheRealDave   ahhh diversity of opinionTRD - here in Australia we have our largest Telco CEO saying the Coalition model is a winner - in fact when you read this little article TRD you will see it was Conroys 1st choice!
http://www.smh.com.au/business/telstra-connects-with-coalition-20120420-1xckm.html