Architects and draftspeople work in the same field and often on the same projects. However, the skills they have and the services they provide can differ greatly. If youre considering a building, renovation or extension project, its important to work out whether you need an architect or a draftsperson.

To help you decide, were going to have a look at some of the differences between the two roles.

Education and Licensing for Architects

To become an architect in Australia, you must complete a recognised architecture degree. Most architecture programs are five years in length and result in a Bachelor of Architecture, although some programs may be longer and result in a Master of Architecture degree. The degree must be accredited by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA).

In addition to completing a recognised architecture degree, architects must also gain practical experience through an internship or similar program. The AACA requires candidates to complete a minimum of two years of practical experience working under the supervision of a registered architect.

Once qualified, you must register with the AACA and the relevant state or territory registration board before you can practise as an architect. Registration requirements vary by state or territory, but generally include completion of a recognised architecture degree, practical experience, and completion of a professional practice examination.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is also a requirement for architects to maintain their registration. CPD can include attending seminars, workshops, or courses related to the architecture profession.

Education and Licensing for Draftspeople

Educational and licensing requirements for draftspeople are quite different to those of architects. In Australia, a...

Are you tired of looking at your old, worn-out carpet? Are you noticing that its starting to lose its cushion? If so, then it might be time for a carpet replacement.

For many, replacing the carpet can seem like a complex and overwhelming task. However, with the right information, preparation and perhaps a little help from professionals, your carpet can regain its lustre in no time.

In this blog post we will discuss whats involved in replacing your carpet. We will cover topics such as cost considerations, choosing materials, methods of cleaning your subfloor, the process of laying down new carpet and so on.

Without further ado, heres what you need to know about carpet replacement.

Signs That You Need to Replace Your Carpet

• Lack of cushion and support
  As carpets age, they tend to lose their softness and cushioning. This can make walking on them uncomfortable, which in turn, can put stress on your knees and back.
• Matting and wear
  Over time, your carpet fibres may become worn and matte, especially in high-traffic areas. This can make your carpet look old and shabby, even if its only a few years old.
• Stains and discoloration
  Carpet fibres can trap dirt and dust. Additionally, it can also absorb stains that are difficult to remove with regular cleaning. Over time, these stains may become deeply embedded in the fibres, making it harder and harder to restore the original look of the carpet.
• Unpleasant odours
  If you notice a musty or unpleasant smell coming from your carpet, its likely that mould or bacteria are lurking within. This can be harmful to your health and can even cause respiratory issues if left unaddressed.
• Allergies and irritants
  As carpets age, they can harbour allergens, such as dust mites, pet dander and pollen. All of these can trigger serious allergic reactions in some people. If youre noticing increased allergy symptoms or respiratory issues, it may be time for a carpet replacement.

Costs Associated with Replacing Carpet

The cost of replacing a carpet can vary based on several factors, including the amount of material needed, the type of carpet, and the cost of your chosen carpet underlay.

The cost of carpet materials can range from $20 per square metre to over $200 per square metre. Less expensive materials include polyester and olefin, which are popular for their durability, while nylon and wool carpets are among the most expensive options due to their high quality and softness. Its important to choose a carpet that suits your budget and your lifestyle, as well as your homes decor.

Instal...

J.G. Olsen / Financial Expositor

Australia was discovered according to the ancient Papal Bull and converted to Royal Estate. This was carved up into real estate and awarded to certain settlers and sold to others for pounds, which were around those times convertible as 4.25 paper pounds to an ounce of fine gold, as determined by none other than Sir Isaac Newton.

One objective of the expansion into Australia was to keep the French out, another more obvious was to profit from the resources. In Fremantle, the closest major port to England, a large luna...

HI Michael Further to my email re the Welcome to Country at the Melbourne Dawn Service, which you kindly posted on your website, I have now received the following pathetic response to my complaint to the RSL. Kind regards Denzil Good morning Denzil, You recently enquiry to the RSL VIC...

Mr Bruce Lehrmann sues Network Ten and Ms Lisa Wilkinson in one proceeding. He also sues News Life Media and Ms Samantha Maiden in another proceeding. Both defamation cases relate to publications made in early 2021, but were only commenced earlier this year, outside the applicable one-year limitation period. It...

Sad to hear that Jerry Springer has passed away. Here's Jerry's final thought that almost brought him to tears. 'Deep down we are all the same... to be liked, accepted, respected and not to mention loved is the greatest gift of all... take care of yourself and each other.' pic.twitter.com/f6qIC8nrBa...

Why? No one can know. Brave Tracey has mysterious methods.

How could we forget? What a pandemic that was, dead bodies everywhere and the hospitals at full capacity waiting for the holy vax to wipe Covid out. Thanks to the frontline heroes! pic.twitter.com/msdzQJevYQ President Lisa Trump (@Carmilla5) April 28, 2023

Spotted on an overpass on Sydney's North Shore. The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation wants your money. https://vimeo.com/722795969 Wow.

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB (Adel)

You will remember our friend Serene Teffaha who was busy gathering up a large number of Australian citizens to form a class action against the Lockdown. Seems reasonable enough. You could even imagine that hundreds of lawyers might imitate such a move. But of course it was not to be.

Ms Teffaha also crossed a red line by involving herself in the problem of child stealing by the child protection agencies.  I must be naive, since I figured she would have a chance of bringing the matter to a head. She is, after all, a solicitor.  Oops, I mean she was a solicitor. A Queensland magistrate by the name of Judge...

Contributed by Joe Montero

When cattle farmer Sid Plant was told by his granddaughter, Pa, I dont want to be one of the ones that have to sort out the mess you made about climate change,' he was convinced that he had to act.

Now, if thats not enough to push your grandad into doing something, I dont think anything would, he says.

Sid happens to be a cattle farmer, and cattle have done a lot of harm to the Australian environment, which is not designed for herd of large, hoofed animals. Forests have ben cut down to make ever more room for pastures and the use of harmful fertilisers. This has caused further damage to the soil.

Sid Plant

Cattle are a significant source of methane, a potent global warming gas.

The reality today is that beef has become an important part of the national diet and is here to stay. This means careful management of the industry is important. This is where Sid and other cattle famers like him come in.

Management involves both land care and cattle diet control. One title that has been used is regenerative farming. Part of this is prevention of over grazing. Another is when to plant. Yet other is needs are what to plant, more efficient use of land, and regeneration of forests and woodlands. The challenge is treating the soil like a living organism that must be kept in a healthy state.

Choosing the right grasses is important. This is also the best way to minimise methane discharge. When this rises, it signals that the cattle are eating what is not so good for them and causing problems with their digestive systems.

The post The Spoon appeared first on IndigenousX.

The ACT inquiry into the attempted cover-up of Bruce Lehrmanns alleged rape of Brittany Higgins is due to start public hearings on Monday (1/5/23). The ACT Inquirys public hearings will be in []

By Lucas Leiroz | April 26, 2023

A prominent Slovakian politician recently stated that the Atlantic military alliance must stop raising false hopes in Ukraine about NATO membership in the future. The parliamentarians words reinforce what had already been said for a long time about the infeasibility of accepting the entry of a country under military conflict into the western coalition. It remains to be seen whether NATO leaders will actually observe the Slovak request.

The statement was made by the speaker of the Slovak parliament, Boris Kollar. He warned that the alliance should make clear the impossibility of a Ukrainian membership, given that Kiev is currently in a military conflict. Kollar said that welcoming Ukraine into the alliance would be unacceptable for most member countries. He also stated that he considers the absence of a definitive answer on the topic to be irresponsible, as this would generate false hopes in the candidate country.

A country in the midst of a military conflict cannot possibly join NATO. It is unacceptable. I think it would never be ratified by the member states. It is very irresponsible to raise false hopes about it, Kollar said during an interview to a Slovak news channel.

During a European interparliamentary conference in Prague, Kollar also warned about the risks of war and unprecedented violence in Europe, since the entry of Ukraine would lead to the alliance immediately triggering the collective defense clause, creating a scenario of world conflict. Therefore, Kollar stated that the matter should not be considered appropriate for now, but that there would be no objections if peace was achieved in Ukraine.

Kollars words come as a response to a recent statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in which the leader stated that Kiev would be part of the Euro-Atlantic family and that all member states had agreed that Ukraine will become a NATO member. The pronouncement seems untrue and somewhat hypocritical, since, despite not ruling out Kiev, the alliance has avoided moving forward with the membership process, delaying as much as possible the discussions around the issue. However, there are a number of reasons why Stoltenberg and other alliance leaders are continuing to hold these false hopes for Kiev.

Indeed, the possibility of admission to NATO is a central factor in keeping the Ukrainian war machine active. Kievs armed forces continue to fight the Russians because they have the hope of full integration into the West. There is a strong belief among Ukrainians that the deployment of regular NATO troops will also become a reality in the future, as they really believe in the existence of an international alliance against Russian aggression, being deceived by their own...

Cardano (ADA) coin has captured the interest of investors and holders with its recent price drop below the $0.40 mark on April 25. This notable price dip left everyone wondering if Cardano (ADA) will break this barrier, which has proven significant in recent trading sessions.

However, today April 26, the general market is recovering as the global market cap gained over a 4.5% increase in 24 hours. The marker-wide rally has pushed ADA back to the $0.40 mark with a massive gain of 6.93% in 24 hours.

Related Reading: Solana (SOL) Plunges Over 13% Will It Bounce Back?

The ADA price has been trending downward for the past 7 days, and the coin is finally gaining momentum. Only time will tell if Cardano ADA can surpass the $0.41 resistance level and trade above it in the coming days. 

ADA Price Trend

The recent price fluctuation in the crypto market harmed Cardano (ADA)s price, causing a significant loss in its market capitalization.

The Cardano market cap is currently at $13.9 billion with a $267 million 24-hour trading volume. According to CoinMarketCap data, Cardano (ADA) is now the seventh biggest cryptocurrency.

Cardanos price drop yesterday, April 25, may have been caused by several variables, such as market sentiment generally and shifts in investor perceptions.

Also, the fluctuations in trading volume, regulatory announcements, or market news that impacted the cryptocurrency market may have played a huge role too. The chart below shows the potential support and resistance levels for Cardano (ADA) in 2023.

While buyers are trying to build a bullish momentum, ADA is still found at the $0.40 zone and might break the support zone of $0.38 if the sellers increase the selling pressure.

The $0.38 level of support has maintained steady during the retest earlier this week and can act as a driving force for a higher valuation. Cardanos price may surpass its resistance level of $0.42 if the bulls completely control the market.

On the other hand, if bears take control of the trend, ADAs price could fall below $0.30 and might hit $0.2777

Cardano (ADA) Price Prediction

The Simple Moving Average (SMA) indicates a potential trend reversal as the 50-day SMA changes directions. The 50-day SMA is trying to cross below the 200, forming a death cross. This action may generate a bearish signal and indicate a potential selling opportunity.

Here's a story about two lovers who inspired by a viewing of a Sydney staging of Genet's The Maids, starring Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert (true story) decide to swim the annual Rottnest Channel Swim (real event) when they learn that the event will feature a Genet play on the island named by Dutch to reflect it seemed like a rat's nest (true according to Wikipedia).

While the mass slaughtering of, and slaughter by, soldiers, is always a touchy subject of commemoration, a tension has existed between those who did the fighting, and those who ordered it. Comfortably secure in furnished rooms and battle props, planners would, as they still do, draw up the blueprints, concoct the strategy, and give the orders.

In Australia, politicians should have every reason to stay out of the grief and suffering they contributed to by sending their citizenry (wait, subjects for the State remains a constitutional monarchy) to countries they could barely spell. But the bosom and milk of British empire was, like US hegemony now, too powerful to resist. Enthusiastic, young volunteers were sent to be cut down in the fields of Flanders and the beaches of Gallipoli.

Things have not improved much since. Apart from the Second World War, which saw Australias own coastline threatened by the forces of Imperial Japan, Canberra has fallen into a nasty habit of sending troops to fight other peoples wars. The tendency has begun to resemble that of coke-addiction. Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq stand out as mercenary missions of invasion and predation rather than defence ventures, the crude calculations of fleshy armchair strategists hankering for security and approval from foreign masters.

The military and political tradition going back to Gallipoli in 1915 is not an enviable one; talk about being slain in the name of freedom is hollow when it comes from the invaders. In a perverse, and glorious twist of public relations, modern Trkiyes creator Kemal Atatrk knew how to turn the bad behaviour of the invasion into the good grace of forgiveness. You, soldiers of Anzac, invaded us; having died on our soil, you became our sons.

Such skilful marketing is conspicuously ignored every April 25, but remains most profitable for local vendors in Trkiye. It should also be said that, in racial and cultural terms, it clearly ignores the Armenians and those caught in the Turkification project Atatrk pursued with sanguinary tenacity. They died gruesomely, aliens in their own land.

Around these engagements, the politician as demagogic promoter of ANZAC the name given to both the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the cult surrounding it has come to the fore. It is common, and convenient, to link the sacral elevation of the Anzac tradition muscular, masculine sacrifice by sturdy blokes keen on freedom and the fair go to Prime Minister John Howard. The process of burnishing the legend and reviving it for more contemporary consumption actually began with the Australian Labor Party, and Australias longest serving Labor Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.

It was his visit to Gallipoli on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings that made things turn. The meaning of the Anzac tradition, Hawke told those....

Chainlink LINK is trading in the green today, up by over 4%, as the general market shakes off the bearish trend. It experienced a price drop from $8.8784 on April 18, 2023, to $7.7704 on April 19, and its trading volume is down by over 4% in the last 24 hours.

Chainlinks ecosystem rolled out new developmental trends and innovative partnerships. Its recent integration with the Celo ecosystem will create a framework for launching Chainlink oracles on Celo and the seamless creation of decentralized applications. 

The price pullback in April hinted at the possibility of a bear market. However, the signs are positive today for LINK as its gains in the market.

Crypto Market Rally Evident In LINKs Price Action

According to CoinMarketCap data, the global crypto market capitalization is up by $3.58% in 24 hours. Also, the total crypto market volume is $41.50 billion, a significant increase of 15.94. 

Bitcoins dominance has significantly increased in the past 24 hours. Notably, most altcoins correlate to Bitcoins price. The general crypto market outlook improved as it shows signs of recovery today.

However, the sustainability of the present positive trend largely depends on market forces and investor sentiments. LINKs current price action indicates the possibility of a rally ahead. A closer look at its performance will provide vital answers. 

LINK is in an uptrend on the daily chart. It is building on its gains yesterday to halt the bearish trend. It bounced off the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) yesterday to begin its recovery. LINK is currently above its 50-day and 200-day SMA, with bullish sentiment in the short and long term.

Its Relative Strength Index (RSI) is 48.32, in the neutral zone and moving upwards. It implies that the asset will likely experience further price increases if the bulls sustain the current rally.

LINKs Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) is still below its signal line and showing a negative value. The indicator reflects the bearish pressure on the asset in the past week. 

Related Reading: Solana (SOL) Rebounding After A Major Drop, Will It Recover Previous Losses?

However, the histogram bars are faint, suggesting a possible trend reversal ahead. Despite the current price increase, further confirmation is vital to determine if a bull run is underway.

Masculinity in our society has long been a powerful force, shaping the ways in which individuals navigate various aspects of life. This complex construct, deeply rooted in cultural norms and expectations, influences decision-making processes for both men and women. From the foods we consume, such as the perceived connection between meat consumption and masculinity, to the career paths we choose and the ways we communicate, traditional notions of masculinity play a significant role in defining our behaviors, values, and ideals. As society evolves, it is crucial to critically examine the ways in which these entrenched gender norms impact our lives and to foster a more inclusive understanding of masculinity that allows for a diverse range of expression and choice.

As we explore the impact of masculinity on decision-making processes, it is essential to recognize how these notions extend beyond just our individual choices and affect broader societal trends. One such example can be found in the realm of dietary habits, specifically the consumption of meat. Research has uncovered intriguing connections between perceptions of masculinity and resistance to adopting plant-based diets. Let us delve into a recent study that investigates the relationship between traditional ideas of masculinity and mens reluctance to abandon meat consumption.

As global trends lean towards vegetarian and vegan diets, one demographic faces greater challenges in making the transition: men. Men typically consume more meat than women and display greater resistance to change in this regard. But what drives this resistance?

A recent study conducted by researchers at Australian National University posits that traditional notions of masculinity may be the answer. The study suggests that men may be reluctant to adopt a meat-free diet because consuming meat makes them feel more manly, whereas refraining from it might threaten their sense of masculinity.

The research involved a large cohort of 4,897 Australians who completed an online survey regarding their attitudes towards meat consumption and self-assessed gender. Researchers measured the extent to which men felt masculine and women felt feminine, and then analyzed whether this played a role in their attitudes towards meat.

The results showed that men who identified as more masculine were less inclined to consider reducing their meat consumption and were more likely to view meat as necessary. For both genders, those with more typical self-ratings were more likely to perceive meat as nice and natural, which may impact their willingness to consider vegetarianism or veganism.

These findings align with previous research suggesting that simply being male makes one less likely to contemplate cutting out meat, but adherence to traditional ideas of masculinity could explain the disparity. Interestingly, women who rated themselves as mor...

Contributed by Jim Hayes

The much publicised case of fox News v Dominion Voting Systems in the United States has been settled outside the court for a payment of $US787.5 million. Fox News, and this means Rupert Murdoch have escaped punishment for spreading the lies that Donald Trump really won the 2020 presidential election and that this was due to massive electoral fraud.

Fox as good as admitted guilt when in its statement it said, we acknowledge the court rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false, adding we are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.

The bottom line is that Fox, and therefore Murdoch, have paid to avoid justice. Who says money doesnt talk? Murdoch has paid for silence. Dominion walks away with the cash.  

One of Dominions lawyers put this down to money is accountability, and in doing so, underlined the truth about American democracy style and the market. Everything is for sale.

Fox has an estimated value of an  estimated value around $US17 billion. The payment handed over for the settlement is hardly a punishment. Justice is a commodity to be bought and sold. Dominion has been compensated. At the expense of selling out the American nation, which had the most rising on this case.

Despite admitting culpability, Murdoch wont have to face the prospect of public disclosure of damaging evidence.

There was not even the pretence of an apology from Fox. Tucker Carlson might have been given his marching orders. He has been merely a pawn piece in the Murdoch game, easily sacrificed. It does not mean that the reporting style, with the constant use of distortions and outright lies wont continue as before. It will.

Mudochs media has said almost nothing about the case.

Other cases are pending. Another election technology company has lodged its own claim. This is Smartmatic. It is seeking $US2.7 billion in damages. There will probably be another out of court settlement. Another case by Fox investors is about access to...

When it comes to recycling, most of us want to do the right thing. While the majority of Australians are more than well-practised in how to recycle, there are still plenty of commonly made mistakes that stop tonnes of packaging from being turned into new products every single year.

With so many different products at the tip of our fingertips with all different types of packaging, keeping up with the proper protocols can be overwhelming to say the least. Below, well explore what so many of us are getting wrong when it comes to recycling properly and what you can do to correct your mistakes.

1. Recycling Items Still Contaminated with Food
   
   Food packaging needs to be clean when its placed into the recycling bin, which means putting a bit of extra time to rinse and wash your recyclables before you dispose of them. Unfortunately, if you put food packaging that still contains food into the recycling, entire shipping containers of recyclables can end up being rejected and sent to landfills instead.

   This is because food waste attracts pests and insects, and recycling centres dont have the means to look through tonnes of recyclable waste to find the root of the problem. If you cant remove the food from the packaging, simply place it in the general waste bin as it will most likely be rejected anyway. If you really want to recycle it, you can tear off the areas that arent contaminated and place them in the recycling bin and leave the rest for your general waste.

2. Not Sorting Waste Properly
   
   Sorting your waste makes recycling more efficient and effective, making it easier for recycling facilities to keep as much waste as possible out of landfills. In many local councils, they would have provided you with two recycling bins one for glass and one for paper, cardboard, aluminium and plastic bottles and food containers.

   If youre a business owner, you can hire a number of different recycling bins to make it easier than ever for your staff and clients to recycle properly, and ensure that none of it ends up in landfills.

3. Putting Recycling Items in Plastic Bags
   
   Another commonly made mistake is people placing all of their recycling into a plastic bag and then placing it in their recycling bin. Plastic bags cannot be recycled with waste inside of them, even eco-friendly, biodegradable and recyclable ones. This is because plastic bags can damage the equipment by getting caught in the machines at recycling centres, and they pose a hazard to the employees who cannot see whats inside of them.

   Instead, all your recyclables need to be placed in recycling bins freely. If you have recyclable plastic bags you want to keep out of landfills,...

The ABC really is a fools paradise. Every under-performing, self absorbed bum gets a substantial pay rise. You have to feel for the small group who actually do pull their weight. The Australian reports: Thousands of ABC employees will receive an 11 per cent pay rise and $1500 bonus after...

In Australia, politicians should have every reason to stay out of the grief and suffering they contributed to by sending their citizenry to countries they could barely spell. 

The post Politicians And The Anzac Tradition: A Story Of Manipulation And Mythology appeared first on OrientalReview.org.

The Human Rights Law Centre, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Migrant Workers Centre will today appear before the Joint Standing Committee on Migration calling for Australias migration laws to centre the rights of people over punitive politics and economic profit.

Currently thousands of people across Australia are denied the basic right to live in safety, reunite with their partner and be a parent to their children. People are stuck on dead-end visas, with no way to make a permanent home in Australia. Predatory bosses exploit this uncertainty to get away with stealing the wages of workers, threatening people with visa cancellation and deportation.

With the Albanese Government poised to act on its once in a generation migration review, we are calling for:

• An ending to permanently temporary visa status, by abolishing dead-end skilled visa pathways and walking back the visa cancellation framework;

• The abolition of Fast Track processing and permanent pathways for people subject to it;

• Evacuation of people seeking asylum still held in Nauru and Papua New Guinea to Australia and permanent resettlement pathways for all those subjected to offshore detention;

• Equal protections for migrant workers to take action on exploitation;

• An end to deliberate family separation in migration and asylum laws.

The Albanese Government must end discrimination against people based on their visa status or how they arrived in the country. We must make sure that everyone who comes to Australia seeking a better life has a clear pathway to settle down, no matter what visa they hold.

Quotes attributed to Sanmati Verma, Managing Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre:

Successive Australian government have treated migration as an extension of their economic policy, and people who migrate as nothing more than sources of skill, talent and labour for the rest of the community. That has led to a migration and asylum system based on uncertainty and insecurity.

It is common for people to live in Australia for ten years without permanent residency, or a clear pathway towards it.

The Albanese Government must stop discrimination against people based on their visa status or how they arrived in the country. The principle that a persons membership of the community should be reflected in their status and entitlements must be reintroduced to the migration system, and all people, irrespective of status, must be entitled to equal protection.

Quotes attributed to Hannah Dickinson, Principal Solicitor at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre: 

The Albanese Government has a unique opportunity to build a fair, effective, properly resourced migration system th......

Virtually every week someone asks me about a strange-looking weather radar feature that is often along the Washington coast.

UFOs?  Chinese balloons?   A stationary flock of birds?   Or could it be the ocean?   The answer is revealed below.

You see the bluish area west of Hoquiam, just offshore on the central Washington coast?  That is the feature.  

The other features are areas of precipitation. 

They move.  The area off of Hoquim stays put.

The image above is for the lowest scanning angle that is typically used in U.S. weather radars, a half-degree (0.5 degree) above the horizontal.    However, the Langley Hill radar was...

1.00 AUD = 0.00002 BTC
0.00010 BTC = 4.50 AUD
Converter

Thank you Jill for Bob Hawke in this telling clip! Albanese is no Bob Hawke! Vote No to Albanese's divisive voice! *ping @mpsmithnews pic.twitter.com/T1XlXSKiCF JILL (@1Swinging_Voter) April 26, 2023

In February at a local RSL club on Sydneys Northern Beaches, Voices of Mackellar hosted what we hope will be the first of a series of Q & As to engage more residents to participate in their democracy. The guest of the inaugural event was Federal MP Dr. Sophie Scamps with the focus on learning []

Author information

Sheilah Hogan

President, Voices of Mackellar

|

The Andrews government has today announced its intention to raise the age of criminal responsibility to only 12 years old. Keeping the age of criminal responsibility as low as 12 is a failure by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes for the children locked up behind bars, and the children who will be exposed to the criminal legal system.

Raising the age to 14 with no exceptions, is the absolute bare minimum reform the Andrews Government must make now. The Governments commitment to consider raising the age to 14 by 2027 is too little, too late, and risks exposing an entire generation of children to the quicksand of the criminal legal system.

The Andrews Government has faced significant pressure for maintaining the age of criminal responsibility at 10. Key government ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats are expected to be  giving evidence before the Yoorrook Justice Commission this week with critical law reform like raising the age of criminal responsibility set squarely on the agenda. 

The Yoorrook Justice Commission recommended immediately raising the age to 14, but instead the Andrews Government is upholding laws that will keep First Nations kids overrepresented in the criminal legal system.

No 12 year old child should grow up in prison.

Twelve and 13-year-olds should be finishing primary school and starting high school. They should be in our schoolyards and with their families, not locked up behind bars. Prison has devastating and lifelong impacts on childrens and young peoples health, development, mental health and wellbeing.

Evidence shows that the earlier a child is locked up in jail, the more the child is at risk of being entrenched in the justice system and re-offending later in life. 

Instead of locking up kids in prison, Premier Andrews and the Victorian Government should fund community-led solutions which keep the community safe and have better outcomes for children.

Cheryl Axleby, Co-Chair, Change the Record: 

"The Victorian Government announcement to increase the age of criminal responsibility to 12 will not make any real difference to the already high and unacceptable rates of Aboriginal youth overrepresentation in the legal system.

We advocate strongly that all state and territory governments commit to raising the age to 14, particularly as the Federal government has committed $81.5 million to justice reinvestment. There is now no excuse whatsoever why all state and territory governments do not now support Aboriginal-led designed and delivery of culturally responsive diversionary programs to break the intergenerational cycle of incarceration for our younger generations."

Quotes from Amala Ramarathinam, Acting Managing Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre:  

<p>&

Introduction by DM

Above, Dave from X22 gives a fair summary of what has and is unfolding about the departure of Tucker Carlson and the stolen election; plus the take-over of the US government. One has to wonder whether the whole Dominion lawsuit is a sham and that no money will be exchanged. Or was the removal of Tucker the exchange? <span id= "more-36283"></span></p> <p>Below, Redacted with Clayton Morris:</p> <p>The post <a href= "https://gumshoenews.com/information-warfare-and-tucking-the-truth-away/" rel="nofollow">Information Warfare and Tucking the Truth Away</a> appeared first on <a href="https://gumshoenews.com" rel= "nofollow">Gumshoe News</a>.</p>

Thank you to those readers who've brought this article to our attention. This is from The Gateway Pundit: The New York Post has more details on the charges: A man, 23, was charged with intentionally endangering the safety of others, aggravated assault, damage to property, disorderly behavior in a public...

Only $8 a month. pic.twitter.com/xvSw9NnGoy Jan SummersLet Us Be (@JanSummersalt) April 25, 2023

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB (Adel)

So he went [and at the] summit, even Clancy took a pull,
It well might make the boldest hold their breath,
The wild hop scrub grew thickly, and the hidden ground was full
Of wombat holes, and any slip was death.
And the man from Snowy River never shifted in his seat
It was grand to see that mountain horseman ride.
He sent the flint stones flying, but the pony kept his feet,
He cleared the fallen timber in his stride.

Then they lost him for a moment, where two mountain gullies met
In the ranges, but a final glimpse reveals
On...

From John Abramson, MD/Hillsdale College: I was in the intensive care unit when a cardiologist came by on rounds. He advocates a wider use of cholesterol-lowering statin medications than I do, and he started to cite the literature about why I should be taking more cholesterol-lowering medicine than I already was. I asked him if he had read the studies underlying that literature, and of course he had. I then asked him if he understood that the endpoint of many of those studies wasnt really appropriate to determine the benefit of statins, and he acknowledged there was some debate about that. Finally, I asked if he was aware that when peer-reviewed articles are published in medical journalseven the most reputable medical journalsthe peer reviewers dont have access to the actual data from the clinical trials being reviewed. And he answered, somewhat meekly, that yes, he was aware of that.

In other words, he was aware that his recommendation that I increase my use of statin drugs was based entirely on incompletely vetted commercially-sponsored and largely commercially-influenced medical journal articles. This gets to the heart of the problem of the commercial takeover of the medical knowledge that doctors believe in and implement.

. . . Prior to leaving office in 1961, President Eisenhower famously warned the nation about what he called the military-industrial complex. I suggest that we now have a medical-industrial complex that is sucking Americas wealth away from the other things that will make us healthier and create better lives for the American people.

Ask yourself, what ought to be the primary goal of American health care? To my mind it is this: to maintain and improve individual and population health most effectively and efficiently. And if that is correct, there are two critical questions we all need to ask: (1) Why are we failing so miserably to achieve this goal? and (2) Why are doctors and other health care professionals willing to go along with this dysfunctional system?

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The United Kingdom has provided Ukraine with thousands of shells for the donated Challenger 2 main battle tanks, UK minister for armed forces James Heappey said on Tuesday. "We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds," he said in a written answer to a parliamentary query. Heappey did not give an estimate of the number of depleted uranium rounds fired by the Ukrainian armed forces, citing operational security reasons. The minister also admitted that the UK was not monitoring the locations from where these rounds were fired and added that his country was not obligated to help Ukraine clear up the depleted uranium rounds post-conflict.

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people

Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower.  Karl Marx

Cynical Attacks by Marxists About Neopaganism

Neopagan Marxists? What are you talking about? We Marxists are atheist materialists. We dont believe in any gods. Do you remember what Marx said about religion? It is the opium of the people. Why are you bringing superstition back in? Neopaganism is just more decadent 1970s hippie romanticism calling for the return to a preindustrial age. All this Goddess crap is just the lunatic fringe of the womens movement trying to bring religion back in. Real socialist feminists are atheists. If anything, Christianity was a moral advance over the barbaric paganism of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Serious charges indeed to be answered throughout this article.

Demanding Workers be Atheists Alienates Marxists from their Base

One of many problems for Marxists in the West is that most people in the working class believe in God, whether they are Protestants, Catholics, Jews or Muslims. Furthermore, whether Marxists like it or not, most people around the world find religious rituals enjoyable, comforting and meaningful. If people treat rituals in a mindless, reified way, that does not mean rituals can be dismissed. In addition, rituals have power not just in religion, but in nationalism and sports which have drawn from religion. Typically, Marxists dismiss religion, nationalism and sports as deriving from false consciousness, simplistic reasoning of the workers or evil machinations of priests or rulers. But this has not stopped working-class people from continuing to be faithful to their religion, country and sports teams. Do you Marxists really want to continue to throw stones at the buildings of churches, stadiums or the bronze cast statues of famous nationalistic generals?

The Structure and Superstructure of Societies

Using a Marxist delineation of social structures, both capitalist and socialist societies have an infrastructure and super...

The cryptocurrency firm is seeking a response to its July 2022 petition asking the SEC for formal guidance for the industry.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has filed a legal action to ask the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to clarify regulations for the crypto industry. The filing follows a July 2022 petition from Coinbase asking the SEC to use formal rulemaking to provide guidance for the crypto sector. Coinbase claims that the SEC has not yet responded to its petition, so it has filed the legal challenge to compel the SEC to respond either positively or negatively to its request.

The Administrative Procedure Act requires the SEC to respond to Coinbases rulemaking petition within a reasonable time. If the SEC decides not to respond, Coinbase will have the right to challenge that decision in court. Coinbase does not seek to dictate the SECs response, only to require that the agency responds at all, according to a statement released by the company.

Coinbase and other crypto firms are facing potential regulatory enforcement actions from the SEC, even though the agency has not stated its position on the application of the law to the crypto sector. Coinbase asserts that regulatory clarity is long overdue for the industry, and that new rules would be a critical step to giving the public notice about what activities they can and cannot engage in.

Coinbase said it recognizes that clear rules are needed for the industry and has asked for rules to be developed. The exchanges decision to challenge the SEC is an attempt to compel basic rulemaking, according to the firm. Coinbase added that it will continue to take every step available to seek regulatory clarity until the industry gets that clarity.

Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase Paul Grewal said in a statement on Twitter that The crypto industry, and its users need clear laws and rules to follow that are built for a new technology. Enforcement actions based in inapplicable securities law arent the answer.

Coinbase has faced regulatory hurdles in the past, leading to it potential...

Better not knock on the wrong door or drive into the wrong driveway, you may get shot. Kids are afraid to go to school for fear of getting killed, as the body count from mass shootings climbs every day. Hate crimes are increasing, and just driving to work is potentially dangerous. Think of tailgaters honking their horns and flipping you the bird as they speed past. Politicians address these issues by calling for gun safety legislation, increasing the number of police, and so on. But these policy responses accept the existence of aggressive behavior as a given and only treat the symptoms. The jugular question focuses on why people are becoming increasingly more violent and aggressive in the first place. We think Herbert Marcuses analysis of the relationship between late capitalism and the human psyche provides a good tool to answer this question.

Marcuse claims that the United States is a sick society, sick because its basic institutions and structures do not permit the use of available material and intellectual resources for the optimal development and satisfaction of individual needs. In other words, Marcuse saw that late capitalism possessed the material potential for people to enjoy much more freedom from want and work than they realized, but capitalism would never permit the fulfillment of this freedom because it would threaten the privilege and power of its ruling class. He calls this disparity between the potential for free human development and the constrained conditions of society surplus repression. In late capitalist society surplus repression is so strong and prevalent that social stability necessitates the opening of the human psyche for manipulation and control, thus creating human automatons, one-dimensional beings incapable of critical thought. This invasion of the mind, he argues, is not a conspiracy. Its rooted in the very structure of power in an advanced consumer capitalist society.

The objective of late capitalism to negate consciousness of the rupture between the individual and the societal imposed mode of existence has implications for the human psyche. Marcuse assumes the validity of Freuds concepts of Eros the life instinct and Thanatos the death instinct to explain how the structures of late capitalism breed aggressive behaviors. In arresting the development of human potential, late capitalism stifles Eros and fortifies Thanatos, he claims. This dynamic, he argues, creates destructive energy that is socially useful not only to maintain but to reproduce the dominant system of economic, political, and technological power. In short, the ascendancy of Thanatos creates the aggressive psyches necessary for the stability of late capitalism. The abundance of goods and services available provides almost unlimited opportunities for consumers to buy goods that reproduce the system of domination and create an endless supply of aggressive human beings. In other words, in a supposed exercise of freedom.....

Crypto exchange Coinbase has sued the SEC, demanding the agency clarify whether existing securities laws apply to digital assets. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The FBI isn't giving House Republicans any answers on the agency's alleged retaliation against whistleblowers.

The National Citizens Inquiry is a citizen-led and citizen-funded initiative that is hearing testimony from Canadians and experts examining the nature, the legality and the effects of the Canadian governments' COVID mandates and restrictions.  Today James talks to the volunteer-run inquiry's volunteer communications director, Michelle Leduc Catlin, about the inquiry itself, what it is seeking to accomplish and how Canadians (and people around the world) can support it in its endeavours.

Contracting a builder to tackle your home renovation can be a daunting task, and theres a lot at stake if you make the wrong decision. After all, youll be spending a significant amount of time collaborating, working with and seeing your chosen renovation builder, and its up to them to deliver a renovation that meets (and hopefully exceeds) your standards.

Thats why its so important that you select someone with the experience, ability and people skills to get the job done right and deliver on your expectations.

So how do you make sure of this?

Asking the right questions will help you weed out the pretenders and give you the ultimate peace of mind that youve found a builder you can trust. Here are 5 questions to ask any potential builder before signing that all-important contract.

How many Renovations have they completed?

This is the most obvious question to start with, as you have to make sure your builder is experienced in not only renovations in general but the specific type of project youre envisioning. Although you might think that all renovation work is the same, there are actually key differences in certain types of renovations and key elements that youll want them to have expertise in.

For example, if you want to carry out renovations on a semi-detached home that involves structural changes, youll want a builder that has experience in this kind of job and has an understanding of the laws and restrictions that apply to it. Renovation builders can demonstrate their experience through an extensive and in-depth track record of past works.

Can they provide testimonials from past clients?

Any good builder should have no problem providing a number of testimonials from past clients, demonstrating their satisfaction and the hard work and dedication of their builder. Make sure that these testimonials include recent works and not just ones from years ago, and try to see some from renovations that are similar to what youre planning.

If possible, try to talk to at least some of these clients directly to validify their statements and how genuine they are.

Can they show you their Builders Licence?

In Australia, the various states and territories have different laws regarding registered building practitioners and the type of work they can or cannot perform. In Victoria, for example, all building work with a cost of more than $10000 must be performed by a registered builder whos been approved by the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Before signing with any builder, make sure that theyre registered and that their registration wont expire anytime near your estimated completion date.

There are three classes of...

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Humberside Police: Mysterious Encounter

• an In My View article by NIGEL WARD, reporting on the curious case of an unspecified offence, at an unspecified location and two mysteriously disappearing bobbies.

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A retired Hull Daily Mail journalist, author and CAB operative has been the victim of a curious intervention by two purported (but unidentifiable) members of the Humberside Police.

Mid-afternoon on 5th February 2023, Mr Steve ANDERSON was visited at his home by two uniformed females giving the appearance of being a Police Constable and a Support Officer, or CPSO. Interviewing Mr ANDERSON (72), the two officers questioned him in connection with an alleged incident which had apparently taken place during the afternoon of 20th January 2023 and been reported by a schoolboy.

Allegedly, a man answering Mr ANDERSONs description had been seen flailing his arms about and looking through the window of a house in the approximate vicinity of the pharmacy/surgery in Holme-on-Spalding-Moor.

The officers claimed that video-footage had been recovered from a door-bell camera. But, when pressed, the officers said they had (a) not seen the video, (b) spoken to any person filing a complaint, or (c) spoken to anyone else with any knowledge of  the incident.

They were also unable to identify (d) the nature of the alleged offence, or (e) the precise location of the alleged incident. They did not know much. But they did say the suspect had possibly been standing in someones garden.

Mr ANDERSON told the Enquirer:

I told them the claims were ridiculous and that, although I had been near the pharmacy that day, it was before lunch and I had been talking to a friend outside while waiting for my wife to collect a prescription. As for flailing my arms around, it was still frosty and I would certainly have been animated in an effort to get warm. And noI was not in anyones garden at any time.

Mr ANDERSON said neither of the officers offered ID not even a business card but one did promise to telephone him with any updates. When no progress report was forthcoming, Mr ANDERSON complained to the Professional Standards Department of the Humberside Police.

The Police Act 1996 states, at s.90:

90 Impersonation, etc.

(1) Any person who with intent to deceive impersonates a member of a police force or special constable, or makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that h...

The incident allegedly occurred on March 3, when a trans-identifying male high school student showered naked in front of four female freshmen.

CBS News became the latest legacy outlet to come to Jan. 6 agitator Ray Epps' defense Sunday night on '60 Minutes.'