Alan Hill

Chaos, violence and war become the norm as the US empire collapses The US is now the main agent of global chaos. How should Australia's policymakers respond?

Chaos, violence and war become the norm as the US empire collapses www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/19/d...

‘This is the looting of America’: Trump and Co’s extraordinary conflicts of interest in his second term Bitcoin, internet, EVs, private dinners for hire – the list of pay-for-play and quid quo pro goes on, and on … and on

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Australian high-speed rail has barely left the station – some experts say a new US project shows a better way The Newcastle-Sydney high-speed rail link is estimated to cost at least $30bn and take well over a decade to build – while a longer line from Los Angeles to Las Vegas could be completed in a fraction ...

"Australian governments rely heavily on #consultants for infrastructure planning, a symptom of the hollowing out of departments of expertise.

“They bring in outside consultants who work on one thing then disband and the expertise vanishes.”

#Auspol

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

In Australia’s post-US future, we must find our own way with China | Hugh White The Canberra establishment thinks we must depend on Washington more than ever in today’s hard new world. That misses a vital point

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

isn’t it great when you get home after a hard day and your cats rush to greet you

@gregcal.bsky.social The excellent Good Weekend (May 17) piece about George Orwell is accompanied by a stock pic which, the caption implies, is of the man himself. But it's not him.

The voyage of life is smoothed by a good name OPINION: Names can carry lots of hidden meanings but ships seem to be the exception.

www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

Beyond Dutton's loss, this is a chance for a new type of politics in Australia The comprehensive nature of this win gives Anthony Albanese the chance to change the narrative of our politics.

The thing that will stay with me about the ABC's election coverage last night is why their own chief political correspondent, one of the finest minds in the country, was sitting there on the panel and yet was practically sidelined www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

P.s., when did the Australian spelling of "euthanase" - the verb of euthanasia, I wrote a book on the subject - turn into the American "euthanise"? I'm seeing it increasingly here and, like the rest of skyrocketing US cultural imperialism, I resent it.
#language

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney:
"We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we must never forget the lessons. We have to look out for ourselves and take care of each other."

How many other world leaders are thinking the same thing?

Queensland police officer who engaged in ‘pattern of predatory sexual conduct’ awarded anonymity by tribunal Exclusive: Former sergeant remains employed by Queensland police in a supervisory role despite ruling his behaviour toward three junior female colleagues was ‘a gross breach of trust’

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

he will never give up his investigation into the mysterious case of the clawed window screen despite a lack of new leads

Opinion | The Rise and Fall of Elon Musk (Gift Article) His belief that liberal democracy has failed and that technologists should lead can be traced to the unusual life of his grandfather.

On Musk's old-fashioned, backwards-looking futurist/techno-authoritarian ideas, all borrowed from failed thinkers of the 20th century
from Jill Lepore

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/o...

Lutnick calls Australian biosecurity rules ‘nonsense’, says Trump won’t back off As global markets roiled from the US president’s tariff overhaul, his commerce secretary said the time for negotiation was over and other countries had to “change their ways”.

This Lutnick character is a Real Estate spiv from New York, a property developer mate of Trump. Count your fingers after you’ve shaken hands.

At one of his frequent press conferences (because he loves being on TV), I'd love it if some reporter piped up with, "What do you say to people who call you a know-nothing narcissistic asshole, Mr. President?"

The @financialtimes.com is not mincing words

"America’s astonishing act of self-harm"
on.ft.com/3YjtOLV

Read this. Seriously ...

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia) Young people running amok in 1960s Sydney | RetroFocus

The way we were.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmMI...

Portrait of Val Kilmer wearing a jean jacket with theater seats behind him. Text on photo reads Los Angeles Times Obituary Val Kilmer 1959-2025

Val Kilmer, a character actor as famous for his idiosyncrasies as he was for his widely lauded performances in hit films such as “Top Gun,” “Tombstone” and “The Doors,” has died at age 65.

www.latimes.com/obituaries/s...

Musk Signals Willingness To Bid More Than $97 Billion To Acquire Respect WASHINGTON—Stressing that he was open to going far higher to close the deal, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Wednesday that he had made an unsolicited $97.4 billion offer to acquire respect. “This is a ...

Musk Signals Willingness To Bid More Than $97 Billion To Acquire Respect theonion.com/musk-signals...

Exactly.

Staff and freelancers at The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, WAtoday, and Australian Financial Review are standing together! Read the statement from the National House Committee below and sign the petition NOW - meaa.io/4lblCar
#FairGo4Freelancers #MEAAmedia

Help freelancers at Nine Publishing win fair rates Off the back of strike action last year, Nine management committed to engage in discussions about freelance rates and conditions with MEAA representatives. Despite this commitment, Nine management ha...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/fr...

With this damning of Le Pen, France can be the ‘anti-Trump’. It’s a bold path others should follow| Alexander Hurst The far right leader is banned and disgraced. European leaders can seize this moment to show voters they will fight for them, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst

With this damning of Le Pen, France can be the ‘anti-Trump’. It’s a bold path others should follow
- by Alexander Hurst
#France
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Margo on X: "A Canadian journalist. #auspol https://t.co/u8fJtmq2ei" / X A Canadian journalist. #auspol https://t.co/u8fJtmq2ei

x.com/marggilroy/s...

Delightful hearing South Australians so proud and delighted ... 🏏

(And by one of the real-deal cricket competitions left that haven't been commercialised, corporatised, Americanised, abbreviated and STILL WEAR WHITE ...)

#abcnewsradio #voxpop

Early Aotearoa New Zealand on X: "Moana, Lake Brunner. Wish I was there now. https://t.co/B75SKjLAkX" / X Moana, Lake Brunner. Wish I was there now. https://t.co/B75SKjLAkX

x.com/zealandearly... Lake Brunner

x.com/svg__collect...

Ric Finlay on X: "JLehmann becomes the first batter whose first name doesn’t start with M to outscore the opposition in the first innings of a Shield final, having previously been achieved by MTaylor, MSlater, MHarris and MLabuschagne." / X JLehmann becomes the first batter whose first name doesn’t start with M to outscore the opposition in the first innings of a Shield final, having previously been achieved by MTaylor, MSlater, MHarris and MLabuschagne.

x.com/ricfinlay/st...

The lying and the staggering incompetence around this is astounding. And dangerous.