The Brown Note

Eurovision Or Bust

Even FIFA don't seem quite as hypocritical as The Eurovision Song Contest - the most preachy of all major events when it comes to exclusivity for all, tolerance and promoting rights. They took a "principled" stand and immediately banned Russia from competing, to uphold "ideals of democracy" but maintain they are non-political (I guess upholding democracy isnt political?!) and wont ban Israel, because it's different. I guess the Palestinians have enough democracy? No-one is buying this, but Eurovision has deservedly set itself up for the biggest global protest against Israels mass-murder in Gaza yet. And Eurovision, stop waving that rainbow flag in my face whilst you enable genocide.

The Oscars 2024 Round-Up

Exactly what it says on the tin.

Can You Be Racist To White People?

The Australian women's soccer captain, Sam Kerr, has been arrested and charged, in London, for allegedly racially abusing a white police officer. Mindblowingly, ex-mens player, and now major pundit, the universally respected Craig Forster, who has spent years publicly speaking out about racism, didn't even understand the difference between racism towards black people and white people. Here is my no doubt soon to be universally praised answer to the question - can you be racist towards white people?

Dutton's Disaster In Dunkley

Last week I posted that the Australian opposition leader, Peter "Potato" Dutton, was the most unelectable in twenty years, this week he lost an election. A small election with a swing towards him, but a fragment of what he needs, and now he's turning to nuclear power as a pivot. The lack of understanding the man has, let alone his lack of charisma is a rolled gold election win for Labor. I have already banked the money two years out, it's over - my biggest long term call ever.

Peter Dutton - The Worst Opposition Leader In 20 Years

Sorry populist right, but the leader of the Australian opposition Liberal party, is the least electable since Mark Latham, twenty years ago. But keep doing what you're doing :)

In Defence Of The British Museum

In one of my irregular, "how to make friends", pieces - a new hill to die on, a defence of of the poster-boy for colonialism, The British Museum.

Alexei Navalny And Julian Assange: Western Hypocrisy At Its Finest

The recent death in custody of Russian political dissident, Alexei Navalny (which I don't actually think benefits Putin) has been met with a wave of Western condemnation and new sanctions against Russia, apparently the only nation committing these crimes international sanctions warrant... However the West's treatment of their own political dissidents and whistleblowers has been identical to what Putin is accused of, minus death in custody for Assange, so far...

Why Is Trump Allowed To Stand For President?

Ignoring the dozens of personal and financial crimes Trump stands accused of, why is someone with charges hanging over their head, relating to trying overthrow democracy and the potentially treasonous handling of state secret, whilst lobbying for immunity from any crime, allowed to actually stand for President of that democracy? When many of these trials will be resolved after the next election, when he could already be in a position to absolve himself. Doesn't public interest and common sense say he shouldn't be allowed to run?

Barnaby Joyce Vs Brittany Higgins: A Tale Of Drunkeness

If you are a protected male in politics like Barnaby Joyce, being filmed, lying sh$t faced in the gutter, babbling profanities, is either funny blokeish behavior to be forgiven or a need for sympathy. For a woman, being drunk comes loaded with innuendo regarding their morals, their credibility, their behavior and their deserving their treatment. And this was hardly Barnaby's first rodeo - but nothing will ever happen to an anointed prince-ling of the Australian media and politics boys club.

Australia: The Liberal Economic Disaster Being Blamed On Labor

For most of us, the cost of living crisis has been raging for years, for the right wing media, it began the day Anthony Albanese was elected leader. Despite the Reserve Bank of Australia announcing six interest rate rises before Labor were even elected, despite the Liberal government near tripling the deficit and going into a per capita recesion by 2019, BEFORE COVID. But then right wing media only cares about the economy when Labor are in power...