Look, we all do it. We hurl about terms like psychopath and narcissist with reckless abandon and almost always without fully understanding the nature of the terms and the subtlety and nuance that goes into a clinical diagnosis.
Former PM Kevin Rudd was labelled “a psychopath” by former MP Steve Gibbons, and “a psychopathic narcissist” by former NSW premier Kristina Keneally. Peter Garrett ratcheted it up a notch by calling Rudd “a megalomaniac”. And that’s just the diagnoses from within Rudd’s own party. Why, the man must be a veritable walking copy of the psychiatric bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
It is arguably true that Canberra is a magnet for narcissists of various stripes. In fact, anyone who wants to get into the caper knows that getting elected to parliament involves a bevy of posters featuring their name and smiling face being nailed to lampposts and wedged in front gardens all over their home suburb. It has to be more satisfying than looking in the mirror for hours.
The trouble is, once these narcissists get to Canberra, they find themselves outgunned by bigger, badder, more vain, more hollow, more manipulative narcissists. Interacting with narcissists more narcissistic than they are must be a real blow to their bloated egos.
Full column here.
The final episode of the ABC Ice Wars tonight was quite inspirational. The involvement of the judicial system and the police in getting young damaged kids back into the mainstream and off the drugs instead of sitting in gaol.
Even Jacqui Lambie was impressive. She’s come a long way has Jacqui. Nice to see her son coming good.
10 years ago today that Billy Thorpe died..,,,
Saw him live a number of times Penny may he RIP.
Indeed HP, did you know that when he died the King of Morocco made a statement saying how proud he was to have known him. He was a big fan and Billy made his last album in Tangiers …..titled Tangiers of course.
Most people I know……..
And I know at times I act a little hazy……
but if that’s my way then you should know it…..
Love that song.
Mashed Potatoes yeah
You know he was Dismayed 🙂
I used to rush after school to watch him at Surf City and The Beach House in Sydney. Anybody dat old here?
No Bassy, 🙁
Well his wife is a friend of mine, Bassman, we went to school together…..but she was younger than him, so I don’t know if that makes us the same age…..or not
Exciting news hot off the presses, Mr Insider, and am sure its not fake news! Elon Musk’s SpaceX announces private mission to moon in 2018, yes that next year! NASA took us there in 69-72 some 6 times and now SpaceX is going back. Strewth!
http://tinyurl.com/gsbwxck
JB has a ticket
I’m taking bets that’s a load of bullshit.
Put me down for ‘a load of bullshit’ Jean, but if they’re looking for two wealthy space travellers perhaps the AntiChrist could put up his hand to go?? That’d give a whole new meaning to ‘Make America Great Again’ if the mission ‘failed’.
Just Musk fishing for another big life saving handout from the government purse Bella. Probably a little punt on the share price too.
The idea of Trump locked into perpetual Earth orbit , here he comes again, yabber, yabber, yabber, yabbbbbbbbberrrrrrrrrrrr (Doppler effect there) is most pleasing tho.
Hope he sends us some photos when he gets there 😀
pffft…. spacex haven’t got to the ISS yet
FLOTUS Trump, the delightful Melania , has just hosted her first White House Party, Mr Insider, the Governors Ball, and she looked ravishing. White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, said that she “put a lot of time” into planning the dinner. Hubby Donald was along of course and he is now busy asking Congress for an extra $50 billion US to boost US Military strength so look out the bad guys, Kimmie, ISIS and Co!
http://tinyurl.com/jpyekv9
FLATUS?
Oops these should have been destroyed.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/28/shell-knew-oil-giants-1991-film-warned-climate-change-danger
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/08/exxon-climate-change-1981-climate-denier-funding
I was interested to see that a few “well-loved” cafes and restaurants around the country are saying that they are going to keep the Sunday penalty rates, so they can keep the staff they have happy and therefore loyal. I think it’s a great strategy, but by the same token they should advertise the fact that they are doing that to attract more customers, well that is the customers that care about the people that serve them their coffee.
I still can’t quite see the logic that by cutting the penalty rates more jobs will become available, but maybe I’m missing something. And before anyone jumps up and down, yes I have run a small business and recognize the value of paying your staff well to ensure good returns.
On the other hand when you compare what people in the service sector in SE Asia earn as an hourly rate and the fact they still keep smiling and providing good service makes me wonder.
And a lot of the expats still persist in clicking their fingers at the wait staff and treating them like sh.t.
Try that in Australia and they wouldn’t last 5 minutes, unless of course you own a 711 franchise.
As for the technical issues being experienced just hit refresh for God’s sake, or wait until you can get onto a more user friendly device.
I would rather have an android smartphone than iPhone any day. Mine is a current model
Unfortunately, whilst they have many advantages over iPhone, they do not have the simple refresh arrow as with other laptops or iPhone – which I agree, is pretty straight forward.
It took a bit of googling to ascertain how to get round the issue on the Android. One merely tries to he helpful to those on here in the same situation perhaps.
Everyone aghast because Kelly Anne Conway has her feet up on the couch. So what? Good on her
sure she didn’t lose ’em? some massacre mebbe?
What do you know? Another Economics Professor highlighting how cutting wages dampens economic growth.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/anis-chowdhury/cutting-penalty-rates-will-defeat-the-pms-vision-for-australia/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
Testing Jack. My phone won’t refresh and bring up the latest posts despite my efforts! Seeing if a new post works.
Well that worked. Strange!
Something has definitely changed in the way the blog works. At my end, I now have to refresh the page to bring up new comments on any device, even when I open the page for the first time or have just submitted a comment, which wasn’t necessary before. From my limited knowledge of how web pages work, I think this has to do with the page itself telling the browser when to reload the content if it has changed, else to just use a cached version. AFAICT that isn’t working right at the moment. It’s pretty easy to work around, though.
Agree JOH
Coming through LOUD AND CLEAR.
Thanks Jack! 😀
Bodhisattva
FEBRUARY 28, 2017 AT 1:32 PM…reset your fone to factory settings Bald,
That would be a very brave move!
I have used a Nokia 3315 for 15yrs Great phone..remembers nothing, saves nothing, saves marriages. Never breaks down. It will be stuffed in 2 months because it will not work on the new more advanced networks. They are bringing out a reissue Nokia 3310 but it will have all the new fandango crap in it that i dont’ like…destroys marriages and relationships! Witnessed it HEAPS of times.
Haha – how true Bassy! I think I read somewhere that the new Nokia won’t work in Oz?
Crikey how will we cope having to actually talk to each other instead of Facebooking all night?
I see no mention of the Government attacking citizens and releasing their personal details to the media for having the audacity to shine a light on the governments corrupt centrelink debts disgrace.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2017/02/28/australia-2017-a-government-that-sees-citizens-as-enemies/
It’s deplorable bullying behaviour directed at our weakest citizens Dismayed but what’s new with this government.
If they ever did anything good, I swear I’d stop breathing.
Mr Dismayed, I tried your link but sadly it is behind a paywall. I note you use the word corrupt which leads me to believe there has been an exchange of money or favours for advantage! The media should be chasing these government hooligans for this type of behaviour. Could you post a link or information that informs us all of this corrupt centrelink debts disgrace.
Who was paid how much and for doing what! The bastards! I for one will write to my local member and demand the law is bought in forthwith! Dear Sir please keep shining your light into the dark recesses of this government. I knew they were abysmal but never realised they were corrupt!
Sigh. The system used to create false debts has been shown to be corrupt. The system is corrupt in that it takes income earned and spreads it across the whole year knowing that at the time benefits payed were entitled to be. The coalition changed the way the system was being used. We see the auditor has shown the debt recovery does not meet its desired results. This was a deliberate attempt by the government to attack the lowest income people in Australia. Weak effort as usual. Again you are another who is so determined to try and attack me all you highlight is your own lack of comprehension and knowledge.
Please Mr Dismayed you have accused me of attacking you when in fact, on any reading of my post, this is not the case. I politely asked a question. If you knew me personally you would realise my want or ability to attack anyone couldn’t be further from the truth. I would ask sir, as a matter of courtesy, that you contain your temper. I think Tom Cruise summed it up nicely to an Australian journalist some years ago when he said ‘put your manners back in’.
I see you are not using the word corrupt in its most common form but are merely referring to clerical irregularities within the Centrelink system. I see you agree the government should seek the return of monies improperly but be a bit more careful in their bookwork. As a pensioner I could tell you some stories about public servant ineptitude. We need to cut their numbers and let them find real jobs is what I say.