• SituationCake@aussie.zone
    12·
    10 days ago

    Democracy Stuff: Again today I heard someone say why bother to vote for candidate X because they just send their preferences to candidate Y. This is completely false. Preferences literally mean the numbers you write on the ballot. 1 is your first preference, 2 is your second, etc. If you want to vote for Greens first and Clive Palmer second, as crazy as that seems, you can absolutely do that. No one can override your preferences. It’s possible that the mistaken belief comes from How-to-vote cards, or from parties forming coalitions or alliances in parliament. If you have any young people, new Australians, or just confused voters in your life circle, please help them out to understand the process. I’m not normally political but with the disaster in America, I realise how privileged it is to have a good voting system. But it’s only good if people know how to participate.

    • Pilk@aussie.zone
      5·
      10 days ago

      Definitely a few slightly more forceful reasons why people get tripped up by this.

      1. Group voting tickets were only abolished 4 federal elections ago, and are bizarrely still a thing here in Victoria and Melbourne City Council. So, people’s belief in this is not totally irrational, but likely carried more by lore than facts.
      2. Many folks look at elections as a chore rather than a precious gift. They would rather remain ignorant about how they work. “Don’t vote for candidate X because they just send their preferences to candidate Y” is more of a meme (in the broad sense of the word) than a well researched political opinion.
      3. There are people that benefit from stoking uncertainty and confusion about the Australian election process. Many of them are not Australian citizens. Just look at the AEC’s Twitter “Replies” tab. Cookers and Russian agents.
    • PeelerSheila @aussie.zone
      3·
      10 days ago

      “It’s possible that the mistaken belief comes from How-to-vote cards, or from parties forming coalitions or alliances in parliament.”

      I’m not sure where this belief comes from either, but I distinctly recall an election campaign many years ago from the Liberal Party, which went along the lines of “A vote for Independents/Greens is a vote for Labor.” It was ran late in the campaign before the election and had a definite impact on the election on that occasion, I just can’t remember exactly when it was. I wondered at the time how it was even legal.

      My mother believed it too. I was more than happy to explain how it works simply to her, like you have here. But she was suspicious about anything I said and I could tell she just simply didn’t believe me. People talk about the Murdoch/Sky News/Herald Sun/mainstream news brainwashing nowadays… it really began a long time ago.

      • SituationCake@aussie.zone
        2·
        10 days ago

        This must be frustrating. Politicians will say whatever works to manipulate vulnerable voters. It’s interesting that the ideas can be so long lasting. I don’t believe there’s any law that says a politician can’t make false claims, and the digital age has made it so much easier.

  • imoldgreeeg@aussie.zone
    10·
    10 days ago

    Stressed week + relaxed cheese and wine yesterday == tummy ache 😔. And I have a plane to catch. I am counting the days until I get a break at Easter 🐣🐣🐣

      • imoldgreeeg@aussie.zone
        4·
        10 days ago

        Thanks mate. I know that its actually a good sign - I am on a much more even keel now then a few years ago body and mind. But sometimes I push it all a bit hard and I hate having a sore tummy.

  • MeanElevator@aussie.zoneEnglish
    111·
    10 days ago

    Sore as heck today. After an extended absence went back to training and really feeling it today.

    Old age is not doing me any favour here.

  • PeelerSheila @aussie.zone
    9·
    10 days ago

    Trying to scrounge up some motivation to do a grocery shop. The CBF factor is high lol. Maybe a second coffee will do the trick 🤪

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
    9·
    10 days ago

    Alright I hope to HELL that is the last time I need to go out for uni fieldwork - I’m so over driving to the most soulless and crammed of new outer suburbs in the north and west.

    I will say, if I had to pick one, it would be Doreen, but I’m guessing the east side bordering Nillumbik / Yan Yean Rd is up there in price relative to age/distance to amenities, even I have to admit much of it is so beautifully landscaped.

    No breakfast and lunch, bought a packet of Indian masala snacks and ate most of it on the way home, super salted/dried out now. I did also finally grab a jar of coconut oil after running out like a month ago - Colesworth just stopped stocking it out of the blue. I’ll have to hope this one’s decent…

    Anyway it’s been hot and yucky and I’m pooped. I have to make these black eyed beans I put to soak in the am. Think I’ll be throwing all the aromatics into the food processor and doing a very lazy Hoppin’ John.

  • just_kitten@aussie.zone
    9·
    10 days ago

    Verily, the John is hoppin’. It’s come out really nicely this time because I didn’t overcook the beans, didn’t use all the bean water, added some tomato paste, and of course the vegan chorizo helped (actually nicer cooked with everything, rather than fried separately and added at the end)

    some of this will go in the freezer

    Shower and then I’m DONE. So grateful for the dishwasher for preventing a total meltdown.

    Thinking I should read another ebook rather than get onto a tv show. I see Richard Powers released a new book last year with good reviews! I need to finish like the last 10% of The Overstory and then maybe I’ll get onto Playground

  • Catfish@aussie.zoneEnglish
    9·
    11 days ago

    Wow. One of my rare ventures into coffee has resulted in the best sleep in weeks. This makes zero sense.

    LittleCat is apparently attempting to hatch the router.

    Operation de-grey the house proceeding in a very messy and stinky manner, and I have a serious grievance with some hungry possums.

    Could people stop dying please?

  • Force_majeure123@aussie.zone
    8·
    11 days ago

    Big UFC card starting up 🤓 7 hours of fights coming right up. Main fight of the night: 36 y.o Aussie Alexander Volkanovski (who was champ a couple of years ago, and some considering him the GOAT of his division) up against an exciting young prospect Diego Lopes. Volkanovski is a slight favourite, but it’s very scary. He’s lost his last two fights (to absolute killers) and he will retire if he loses, which will be very sad. Anyway, exciting times! Hit me up if you want to know how to watch for free ☠️⛵

  • SituationCake@aussie.zone
    8·
    10 days ago

    Fairfield boathouse could do with a proper deep clean and updated food options. It’s such a beautiful location and has so much potential, but it’s run down, sticky, and seems uncared for. A bit of harmonious modernisation while keeping the vintage vibe would work wonders.

    • LowExperience2368@aussie.zone
      2·
      10 days ago

      Their calamari rocks.

      Although they could certainly take a look at Studley Park boathouse down the road in terms of modernising.

  • Seagoon_@aussie.zone
    8·
    10 days ago

    order slowly coming out of chaos

    it’s tiring, it can be hard to see progress but it’s very satisfying

    plus this is a lovely suburb to live in

    also there are no shops or cafes in this suburb, not one , there is a sports club and it is possible to buy a coffee there , that is all