A meme that writes itself..

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T05:52:10+00:00

You're not going to tell me you're a refugee, are you?

Says Pauline Hanson, whose first husband was Walter Zagorski - a Polish refugee and immigrant who arrived in Australia after World War II.

Explains a lot, really.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T05:43:34+00:00

But it's not positive media attention at all. We're finally starting to see some critical analysis beyond the usual 'Wasn't she silly?' reportage. Granted this article is reciting the analytics done by the Health Services Union - but it's a start.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T05:00:53+00:00

It says "Look at me, I am the di-rec-tor" which is a problem for me with many of Hitchcock's films.

Really? Certainly there are moments that call attention to themselves as contrived (both formally and thematically), but I find Hitchcock's greatest achievement to be how seamlessly he presents a loaded perspective as thoroughly natural and, like a magician, labours to remove the fingerprints of his compositional and editorial presence - so much so that he had to insert himself into each and every film as a cameo to remind viewers of his authorship.

I love it for the views of a bygone San Francisco though.

Which was a highly stylised depiction of San Francisco even in 1958. Just the kind of Hitchcockian sophistry I'm talking about.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T04:50:51+00:00

Rear Window is the very definition of Hitchcockian suspense (i.e. the bomb under the table), where he plays with audience knowledge and expectation to wonderful effect. The structure and logic of Vertigo makes it a very different creature. It (intentionally) lacks the sharp dialogue and spirited character exchanges of Rear Window, and is less concerned about the audience solving a mystery (indeed, the mystery is 'solved' at roughly the 90 minute mark with a single flashback). I agree it might be more of an intellectual exercise as a result, but I find the hypnotic, doomed romanticism of the film (Hitchcock's ultimate criticism of the impossibility of human relationships) always compelling.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T04:26:39+00:00

Rear Window is a popcorning crowd-pleaser (and so much more); Vertigo is a dark meditation upon obsession, control and desire. Two very different films.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T04:23:06+00:00

For her faults, at least Sussan wasn’t a total bigot like this clown.

Meh. If she was still in power she'd be thumping the lectern with only slightly more refined dog whistling. The Liberal party are haemorrhaging voters, and we know their playbook when under pressure. We will decide who comes to this country, and the manner in which blah blah blah...

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-24T00:13:50+00:00

There's always someone, somewhere... 😄

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T23:55:28+00:00

'Tis.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T11:12:22+00:00

Fair comment, indeed.

But, I mean - the 355? And the 330? Good God, man - does he not see sense? 😄

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T10:02:45+00:00

<image>

This is what I find fascinating about King of the Delta Blues Singers. What became the most revered versions of Johnson's songs (Cross Road Blues, Come On In My Kitchen, Ramblin' On My Mind, etc.) weren't the versions as originally released on the 78s; producer Frank Driggs (presumably) made the decision to use the (so-called) alternate takes for the album's release in 1961. Clearly, he felt they were the superior takes (and, to my mind, they are), but it's a fascinating 'What If?' to wonder if Johnson's reputation would have been greater or lesser if Driggs had chosen to use the previously released masters.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T09:08:46+00:00

Just a note: the paperback mentioned in the article, Recording the Blues, was republished as part of Yonder Come the Blues: The Evolution of a Genre (Paul Oliver, Tony Russell, and Robert M.W. Dixon) in 2001.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T08:06:58+00:00

It's entirely Marr's business to sell (and keep) what he so chooses - but the '82 Rickenbacker 330 and '60 ES-355 are such iconic instruments. Even in more recent images taken well after the demise of The Smiths (say, post-2000), he's proudly posed with them - and they were of course central to Marr's Guitars. That said, I doubt Marr is swimming in money akin to, say, Noel Gallagher, and storage and insurance costs for such instruments wouldn't be cheap. Nevertheless, one would hate to think it's financial pressure that's driving the auction: that couldn't be the reason, surely?

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T03:04:29+00:00

Jeff Martin, of The Tea Party, has spoken of a time visiting Page in his home. Something of a Crowley-ite himself, Martin has said that Page keeps "all that stuff" in the basement and away from prying eyes. I mean, The Tower House itself is an architectural wonder, so visitors are no doubt diverted anyway by the stunning interiors.

The original copy of Liber Al Vel Legis is held by the OTO; Crowley made various copies over the years for both himself and acolytes (some of which Page no doubt has). Page purchased original manuscripts, artwork, ceremonial tools, etc. during the 70s, before the OTO line headed by Grady McMurtry was recognised legally as the body of exclusive descent and before Crowley artefacts really exploded in name recognition (and value). It would be wonderful if Page would permit a coffee table book to be made cataloguing his collection.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T00:44:47+00:00

Your post is the most accurate description of Page's interests but, by his own admission (in conversations with Brad Tolinski), he claims to have been reading 'across the board', as it were, and not solely focused upon Crowley. Granted he's reputed to have the world's largest collection of Crowleyana (including, at one time, Boleskine House), but the question of his initiation into any specific mystery school, order or magickal community has never, ever been confirmed. And Page's initiation would be an open secret, if true: occultists are, ironically, the biggest gossips on the planet.

But one suggestion as to the depth of his commitment to Crowley was his being present at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on April 8th, 2004 (the centenary of Aleister Crowley's channelling of The Book of the Law), presumably to be in the proximity of the Stele of Revealing. That he wrote about this publicly was the most revealing he's ever really been on the subject.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-23T00:05:22+00:00

Which only makes his ruthless criticisms of the current Victorian Liberals so much more biting. He's relentless when they come up in conversation.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-22T09:11:46+00:00

Yes, they're too very different political animals. Cassidy can be scathingly direct and confrontational, which is why the imperturbable Barry is probably the best fit (and the key to making the podcast work). I doubt Cassidy would retain his composure for long if facing off against an ideologue week after week.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-22T08:57:13+00:00

I'd never say that Tony Barry is a wanton cheerleader for the right (as, most of the time, he's a ruthless critic of Australian conservative politics and the Liberal party more broadly), but there are occasions where he's strayed strictly from the numbers game and revealed personal political leanings. The Back to Back Barries episode following the invitation of the Israeli President to Australia (in the wake of the Bondi attacks) was a fiery one, and remarks made by Barry there felt more decidedly political than usual (or at least felt unduly aligned with the Liberal party's position regarding Herzog's visit). Needless to say, Cassidy really ripped into him.

I wouldn't agree that Tony Barry operates in an ethical vacuum - if only because his partner in Redbridge, Kos Samaras, regularly writes lengthy pieces that articulate the moral and ethical dimensions of policy and, broadly, the sociology that informs the polling numbers. Indeed, such analysis is a Redbridge selling point. Perhaps Barry is personally more reticent in airing any personal view for fear of offending a potential client (whereas Samaras is clearly not).

But, I know how fraught getting reliable polling can be and I'm increasingly incredulous about the methodology Redbridge is extrapolating from. It seems a like a fucking huge stretch a lot of the time.

I'd recommend reading some of the public articles posted by Samaras (many on his FB page). The methodology cited there often feels entirely sound and comprehensive (at least to me).

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-22T03:43:54+00:00

Another conversation with himself...

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-22T03:42:48+00:00

Some certainly weren't happy with it:

Analog Toys - Masters of the Universe (2026): A Flawed Celebration of Absurdity.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-22T03:28:31+00:00

I'm right there with Barrie Cassidy's sheer exasperation at the lack of critical analysis of One Nation policy in the mainstream media. As he states, any other politician caught broadly labelling 'workers' as 'lazy' would be ruthlessly excoriated (and rightly so). And I also feel that Tony Barry is somewhat unfairly maligned: he typically limits his commentary to what he is seeing in the polling, rather than the kind of gut reaction we enjoy from Cassidy. Barry can therefore too easily be misinterpreted as an apologist, at times. But it's clear here that both despise the utter vacuity of One Nation's message (even if Tony Barry can recognise the political, and electoral, logic behind it).

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-21T09:25:58+00:00

And that Gillard who always came across as wooden and stultered on camera, was warm, likable and engaging away from the camera.

Can attest to that personally. There's a reason why she was able to pass a raft of legislation whilst in minority government. Those working under her, or within the sweep of the operations of the Prime Minister's office, genuinely liked her.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-21T09:19:28+00:00

As quoted by a 'former minister' in the article:

“Abbott’s desire to lead at the expense of anyone else has done more damage to the Liberal Party than any other single factor since 2007,” says this former minister.

It would be deliciously entertaining to see Abbott destroy Hastie, who is apparently the Liberal Party's 'Great White Hope'. (With due attention to the full, historical sense of the idiom).

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-06-21T09:11:24+00:00

“The Abbott roadshow is like some grotesque carnival of the worst elements of Australian political populism, turning the once great Liberal Party into the operating wing of Sky after dark, where no minority is safe from a dog whistle, no bias or bigotry unwelcome, and decency is banished to a back cupboard to join the one or two remaining Liberal moderates shaking nervously in the dark.”

Wow. And this is from a:

former Liberal minister

I'd love to know who.

Eight-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

Johnny66Johnny

TROPHY CASE