AndyCeleste
@innocent-abroad.bsky.social
Australian living in Vienna, Austria.
A bit of an expert in Anglo-Saxon poetry. Active greenie. Reads New Left Review.
Loves leftist philosophy, jazz, old comics.
A bit of an expert in Anglo-Saxon poetry. Active greenie. Reads New Left Review.
Loves leftist philosophy, jazz, old comics.
Did the government allow a march? If they did, that will be the difference. This was NSW Labor's fault for its kneejerk OTT legislation. We had a perfectly good system and pretty functional protest management by the cops until Minns f***ed it up chasing approval from Israel-backers.
February 12, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Did the government allow a march? If they did, that will be the difference. This was NSW Labor's fault for its kneejerk OTT legislation. We had a perfectly good system and pretty functional protest management by the cops until Minns f***ed it up chasing approval from Israel-backers.
We live in such terrible times.
February 12, 2026 at 10:39 AM
We live in such terrible times.
You're right, I don't know. Today there is news of an elderly woman who suffered broken vertebrae when pushed over & crushed by people falling. + a man with laceration to his elbow. More injured may come forward. At this stage I remain of the view the police action was legal though the law is wrong.
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 AM
You're right, I don't know. Today there is news of an elderly woman who suffered broken vertebrae when pushed over & crushed by people falling. + a man with laceration to his elbow. More injured may come forward. At this stage I remain of the view the police action was legal though the law is wrong.
The Police internal investigation will be overseen by the LECC, which is independent of the Police. As for scrutinising the actions of the Govt and Police prior, an Upper House Committee can do that. Probably should.
February 10, 2026 at 9:07 AM
The Police internal investigation will be overseen by the LECC, which is independent of the Police. As for scrutinising the actions of the Govt and Police prior, an Upper House Committee can do that. Probably should.
Seems like it might be unreasonable use of force. The person is already subdued. Longer video needed, as he might have tried to get away before. They are allowed to punch to subdue someone, but force must be reasonably proportionate.
February 10, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Seems like it might be unreasonable use of force. The person is already subdued. Longer video needed, as he might have tried to get away before. They are allowed to punch to subdue someone, but force must be reasonably proportionate.
I see the bike. Was it his? You're right that one frame shows a blow going onto the ribcage. Still not an illegal blow - though blows to the ribs are a higher level of force than blows to the arms. The rest, grabbing the shirt, jumping on him, are standard use of physical force to effect an arrest.
February 10, 2026 at 8:50 AM
I see the bike. Was it his? You're right that one frame shows a blow going onto the ribcage. Still not an illegal blow - though blows to the ribs are a higher level of force than blows to the arms. The rest, grabbing the shirt, jumping on him, are standard use of physical force to effect an arrest.
His arms were above his head at the start of the clip. They were punching in the direction of his ribs, but by that time his hands were down protecting them. The blows don't land on his ribs. I have no vision problems and I know how to analyse a video of a physical interaction.
February 10, 2026 at 7:55 AM
His arms were above his head at the start of the clip. They were punching in the direction of his ribs, but by that time his hands were down protecting them. The blows don't land on his ribs. I have no vision problems and I know how to analyse a video of a physical interaction.
Hmm. Think about what you just said in the context of this discussion...
February 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Hmm. Think about what you just said in the context of this discussion...
I never said that, if you don't mind. I support the protest including disobeying the direction. I am focussing on whether what the cops did was against the rules. I don't think it was, but that doesn't get Minns and Albo off the hook. They have created unnecessary social tension.
February 10, 2026 at 7:49 AM
I never said that, if you don't mind. I support the protest including disobeying the direction. I am focussing on whether what the cops did was against the rules. I don't think it was, but that doesn't get Minns and Albo off the hook. They have created unnecessary social tension.
Also, only one cop is punching him. The others are grappling at him.
February 9, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Also, only one cop is punching him. The others are grappling at him.
Looks like he's been pepper-sprayed. I'm pretty sure he'll recover. However, Herzog go home!
February 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Looks like he's been pepper-sprayed. I'm pretty sure he'll recover. However, Herzog go home!
Outside the perimeter? The control lines aren't clear from the video. I wasn't there I'm OS. If they bottle protesters so they can't disperse like they did at Central a few years ago, that's a different story.
February 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Outside the perimeter? The control lines aren't clear from the video. I wasn't there I'm OS. If they bottle protesters so they can't disperse like they did at Central a few years ago, that's a different story.
Look again. He put his arms down & the blows landed on them. I agree if it was clear he was ready to disperse it would be an issue. But I'm pretty sure there's another shot where they pushed him back & he returned to the front. Raising hands shows you are not gonna fight, not that you will comply.
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Look again. He put his arms down & the blows landed on them. I agree if it was clear he was ready to disperse it would be an issue. But I'm pretty sure there's another shot where they pushed him back & he returned to the front. Raising hands shows you are not gonna fight, not that you will comply.
No way the guy they punched was old. 55 max. It looks bad. He refused to comply with order to disperse & was subdued with what seems to be legal use of force. Punches were to the arm. Putting hands up shows you are not violent but police can still subdue you. They didn't have the no's to be gentle.
February 9, 2026 at 2:24 PM
No way the guy they punched was old. 55 max. It looks bad. He refused to comply with order to disperse & was subdued with what seems to be legal use of force. Punches were to the arm. Putting hands up shows you are not violent but police can still subdue you. They didn't have the no's to be gentle.
Are you talking about the operation after the order to disperse, or the earlier scuffles when the marching group tried to enter the square? Or during the speeches? Coz in the first and maybe 2nd cases you can't say they were cooperative. It certainly seems you are right that no one was violent.
February 9, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Are you talking about the operation after the order to disperse, or the earlier scuffles when the marching group tried to enter the square? Or during the speeches? Coz in the first and maybe 2nd cases you can't say they were cooperative. It certainly seems you are right that no one was violent.
I don't support the anti-protest laws. But cops were enforcing a legal direction to disperse. We'll see if there are any demonstrable incidents of excessive force. Protesters were brave & I'm proud of them, but cops were following orders. < 30 arrests & nobody with serious injuries on either side.
February 9, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I don't support the anti-protest laws. But cops were enforcing a legal direction to disperse. We'll see if there are any demonstrable incidents of excessive force. Protesters were brave & I'm proud of them, but cops were following orders. < 30 arrests & nobody with serious injuries on either side.
Cops were enforcing a direction to disperse, so as long as force used to subdue him was reasonable, they were acting legally. I thought at 1st the guy was being punched in the ribs, but on closer inspection, the cop was punching him in the arm, which is OK. 50+ y.o. guys aren't a protected species.
February 9, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Cops were enforcing a direction to disperse, so as long as force used to subdue him was reasonable, they were acting legally. I thought at 1st the guy was being punched in the ribs, but on closer inspection, the cop was punching him in the arm, which is OK. 50+ y.o. guys aren't a protected species.
He's in the MEAA. Here is a statement from them. www.meaa.org/mediaroom/st...
Statement on Dismissal of Jayden Kitchener-Waters - MEAA
MEAA stands in solidarity with our First Nations member, Gomeroi & Ngiyampaa man Jayden Kitchener-Waters, following the NSW Premier Department’s decision to terminate his employment earlier this week....
www.meaa.org
February 7, 2026 at 8:02 AM
He's in the MEAA. Here is a statement from them. www.meaa.org/mediaroom/st...
How good are their torpedoes?
February 6, 2026 at 12:16 PM
How good are their torpedoes?
Isn't it a bit hard to sink an aircraft carrier?
February 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Isn't it a bit hard to sink an aircraft carrier?
Hmm. Victoria Barracks in Sydney is close to Centennial Park and Moore Park. It's a short bus ride or cycle from Hyde Park and the Domain. How much park space Cloverville take?
February 5, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Hmm. Victoria Barracks in Sydney is close to Centennial Park and Moore Park. It's a short bus ride or cycle from Hyde Park and the Domain. How much park space Cloverville take?
Incorrect. According to the story in the link, Starlink is officially blocked in Russia, but not in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. At the reqzest of the govt of Ukraine. Russian units have been accessing it contrary to the TOS. This is now being rectified. Source: the story you linked to.
February 5, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Incorrect. According to the story in the link, Starlink is officially blocked in Russia, but not in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. At the reqzest of the govt of Ukraine. Russian units have been accessing it contrary to the TOS. This is now being rectified. Source: the story you linked to.
Four Weddings and a Shitpost
January 31, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Four Weddings and a Shitpost
I've had to watch reruns...
January 31, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I've had to watch reruns...