Aaron Smith
@Aaronsmith333
Followers
13,895
Following
7,373
Media
4,047
Statuses
45,448
Tech for work, swimming for sanity, and doing my bit to fight for integrity in our politics. Also aaronsmith333 at the other place.
Melbourne, Australia
Joined March 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
#今月描いた絵を晒そう
• 180721 Tweets
Mombasa
• 73780 Tweets
Griezmann
• 57232 Tweets
#JusticeForBruce
• 55307 Tweets
#CDTVライブライブ
• 44882 Tweets
PASTEL FRESHTORY X GF
• 25737 Tweets
OUROAD GRAND OPEN HOUSE
• 18731 Tweets
Grizou
• 17820 Tweets
おはスタ
• 17412 Tweets
シャウエッセン
• 16084 Tweets
#chibalotte
• 15190 Tweets
Deschamps
• 14657 Tweets
フルサイズ
• 13662 Tweets
OHMLENG IDEA LIVE
• 11390 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
Part two of my 2022 year in reflection swimming thread is all salt water, and mostly ocean pools.
/1
36
39
273
You probably know the start of this Olympic story, but do you know how it finished?
This photo is of Eric Moussambani, aka 'Eric the Eel' from Equatorial Guinea, competing in the 100m Freestyle event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, alone.
Why?
/1
582
12K
82K
The IOC's wild card initiative, designed to nurture sport in developing nations, arguably found success in Eric's story.
He became an icon for swimming in Equatorial Guinea, which now features two Olympic-size pools, and Eric became the national coach in 2012.
/8
24
611
23K
Here is Eric's iconic swim on YouTube.
The conclusion of his story is arguably more important than its beginnings.
#Olympics
/end
164
675
15K
After Sydney, Eric kept swimming. In 2004 he swam a 100 free time 56.9s (compared to 1:52.72 in Sydney).
Two years later, he achieved a PB of 52.18 (5 seconds off the winning time Sydney 2000), and would've been fast enough for a Gold Medal at the Melbourne 1956 Olympics!
/7
13
269
13K
Why was Eric there?
The IOC's wild card strategy aimed to boost sports in developing nations like Equatorial Guinea.
Eric heard the call for swimmers on the radio, and since he was the only one to show up, he made the team!
The only issue was, Eric couldn't swim.
/4
7
250
12K
So a few months out from the games, Eric started his training, partly with the assistance of fisherman in a lake.
He was also given access to a 12M long hotel pool for up to 1hr, three times a week.
Equatorial Guinea had no 50m pools.
/5
2
152
10K
It seemed like he wasn't going to make the distance. Touching a lane rope would've been automatic disqualification.
He completed in 1:52.72, the slowest time in Olympic History, and for comparison, 47 seconds slower than I did recently, in my late 40s. Remember these times.
3/
6
125
8K
Eric's heat started with 2 other competitors; one from Niger and the other from Tajikistan. Eric's competitors however both broke, and were disqualified, leaving him to swim this event alone.
Eric hadn't completed a full length of a 50m pool before, but he dived in anyway.
/2
15
135
8K
“It’s a vote against treating the public with contempt.”
Laura Tingle
41
968
7K
When Eric turned up to Sydney, and swam in a 50M pool for the first time, he couldn't have been less prepared.
The blue speedos he raced in were given to him by the South African swimming coach just prior to his race, who noticed Eric training in shorts.
What happened next?
/6
6
132
7K
Why has it taken Penny Wong so long to try and repair the damage to the relationship with our Pacific neighbours?
What was she doing in the several hours between returning from Japan and departing for Fiji that was so important?
352
421
7K
If Australia's death rate was the same as the US or UK, we'd have recorded 52702 deaths instead of 2334.
Because our state leaders mostly made unpopular decisions based on science, and millions made huge sacrifices, there are 50000 people alive now who wouldn't have been.
1/4
105
1K
6K
Josh. A thread
It’s hard to pinpoint the moment I became certain that Josh Frydenberg is not a man I want in our Parliament.
What I know is that I'm one of nearly 3,000 volunteers for
@Mon4Kooyong
, about 80% of who are volunteering like this for the 1st time.
1/15
187
1K
6K
Every single Liberal Party seat lost, was lost to a woman.
Does anyone have any idea at all what the Liberal party could possibly do to counteract this? Anyone?
332
486
5K
$61M in the budget for school chaplains.
Why do we have a program that mandates that the person providing counselling to school kids is religious?
312
916
4K
If someone now needs to pay $600 for an MRI to see if they have a tumour, it says to me that people were right to be concerned about the LNP and Medicare.
What happens if you have a tumour, but can’t afford the diagnosis?
#insiders
242
1K
4K
It’s my 46th Birthday today. All I ask for my birthday is that nobody vote for the LNP. Thanks in advance.
411
302
4K
Buying the 3 largest billboards at Kew Junction won't make me forget that when we desperately needed leadership with grace, compassion and capacity, Frydenberg instead used the desperate predicament of Victorians to try and score the cheapest of political points.
Vote him out.
359
673
4K
Why does Scott Morrison keep saying 'people know me' as if that's a good thing?
282
497
4K
I'm 46 years old.
I hope Scott Morrison loses more seats than any Prime Minister has in my lifetime because I can't remember one who deserved to be pummelled by the electorate more than Scott.
It would help restore my faith in our society.
128
573
4K
Forcing patients to visit pharmacies twice as often so that pharmacy businesses can access additional dispensing fees from the tax payer is a position of such monumental self interest, that I'm surprised the Pharmacy Guild hasn't died of shame.
#insiders
106
951
4K
Queenslander Peter Dutton, in one of the most embarrassing moments in Australian Parliamentary history yelled out 'where's Yeppen?' in an attempt to mock and humiliate Anthony Albanese, thinking that Albanese couldn't pronounce 'Yeppoon'.
1/4
96
697
4K
A cautionary important thread on how the culture war mongers do their work.
The last week shows how Peter Dutton plans to win the next election, assisted by media who moonlight as the LNP PR machine, working in unison with a conservative lobby group funded by billionaires.
/1
234
1K
4K
No, Australia is not a Christian nation, and the sooner we rid parliament of religion, the better.
Our constitution separates church and state for a very good reason. Ralph Babet should read it.
563
535
3K
There is no way for any media outlet to show a photo of the real PRGuy without telling all of their audience that Avi Yemini threw a chopping board at his ex-wife.
Genius.
Hi, I'm Jeremy Maluta. You may remember me from such hashtags as
#IStandWithDan
and
#ICantBelieveItsNotAStaffer
. I caught up with FriendlyJordies so I could finally meet you all face-to-face. Enjoy!
#PRGuyUnmasked
2K
2K
16K
82
485
3K
Dan Andrews to Peta Credlin today is a proxy for News Ltd editorial strategy overall:
“You make a statement that is completely inaccurate and you repeat it again and again in the hope that it will become true.”
I have never heard what News Ltd does put better than this.
60
847
3K
While politicians posture to criminalise children as young as 10, remember not a single politician has faced a single charge for Robodebt.
Not a single one.
58
1K
3K
@BelindaJones68
It's fascinating isn't it! His rate of improvement after 2000 was quite astounding.
5
21
3K
This man, a councillor in Cumberland City Council, Western Sydney, just voted to ban Libraries from having books that show same-sex parents. The vote carried as a result.
Labor should remove him from the party immediately.
Zero tolerance for homophobes.
@ChrisMinnsMP
@AlboMP
Mohamad Hussein was the only Labor councillor to support banning books that show same-sex parents
His vote broke the tie and allowed the ban to pass 6-5
248
118
511
666
710
3K
Today was the last time you'll ever have to listen to Scott say 'Mr Speaker Mr Speaker Mr Speaker' as PM.
219
323
3K
For those in the media obsessed about Victoria getting to 80% single dose around Tuesday instead of Sunday, could you please become more obsessed about Greg Hunt's failure to order Pfizer when he could have?
We might have been at 80% months ago.
53
672
3K
If you can menstruate, have a baby and undergo menopause all in the same year, I'd argue that you should get a lot more than just some extra leave.
138
282
3K
Scott Morrison didn't fire any of these men. Not one.
They're all currently being paid more than $200k while Scott keeps them locked away, hidden from public view, in some sort of witness protection program.
96
1K
3K
Jane Hume said Australians are paying 56c per kWh for electricity.
I currently pay less than 20c, and I'm about to switch to a plan that charges 9c between 10am and 3pm - perfect for EV charging.
Why do the Liberals constantly lie about energy?
#insiders
436
819
3K
The attacks on Kevin Rudd can be traced back to Kevin calling for a Murdoch Royal Commission.
Rudd called Murdoch media a cancer on democracy, and they've just proven it, again.
161
906
3K
It's unfathomable that David Speers on
#Insiders
did not ask one single question of Angus Taylor about the Robodebt Royal Commission.
Why do they allow the Liberal Party to drive the media agenda so shamelessly?
The Superannuation issue is a minion by comparison.
Is this ok?
99
624
3K
This is Scott Morrison in question time smirking as the tragedy and pain caused by his government's
#robodebt
scandal is recounted.
It's the face of a man who does not give a fuck.
If Dutton and his colleagues had any integrity, they'd seek to expel him. What does it take?
271
726
3K
The thing that most strikes me about Pell, is that at no point did it ever seem that he gave a single fuck about all of those abused kids.
I get exactly the same thing from those who defend him.
Why don’t they care?
#Pell
139
354
3K
Can someone please let Peter Dutton know that China has shelved the regional agreement with the Pacific?
It's just that Peter was hanging shit on Penny Wong a couple of hours ago, suggesting she wouldn't get anywhere on this in 3 years, when she actually just did in 3 days.
51
589
3K
With polling booth data showing that Indigenous people overwhelmingly voted Yes to the Voice, should Jacinta Price apologise, and be sacked as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians?
Price not only failed to represent Indigenous people, she actively campaigned against them.
468
886
3K
Watching grown men melt down because they saw Brisbane referred to by its indigenous name Meeanjin on an airport sign is completely wild.
How do these men function day to day?
295
302
3K
I've been sitting on a document, unsure what to do with it.
I've decided to share it today.
I'm not prone to exaggeration, but if this document is true, it throws doubt on the legitimacy of Victorian Liberal candidates, and the party by extension.
#springst
1/10
124
900
3K
It's a sea of teal at Kew Junction.
The Liberals and Murdoch and Radio Costello might be cheering the removal of the amazing community inspired mural.
But they can't do a thing about the 1000s of volunteers having 1000s of conversations on the streets of Kooyong.
#KooyongVotes
100
578
3K
In the 1960s, less than 1 percent of people in Australia said they had no religion. In the latest census it surged to 39%, and is on track to exceed 50% by the 2026 census.
Religion is plummeting in Australia, and so too is the power of those who'd use religion to restrict us.
287
348
3K
Dutton will have woken in a quandary today.
Does he pursue Friendly Jordies, thereby drawing attention, and risk bringing other stuff out in the open.
or;
Does he ignore it, and risk having everything alleged stick to him, given his comparative pursuit of Shane Bazzi?
130
492
3K
David Speers to Bill Shorten: "I understand you want to make a political point"
Bill Shorten in reply: "Well let me make it. Not everyone is as telepathic as you David."
Shorten is very good at handling Speers.
#insiders
65
493
3K
No state funeral in Victoria for George Pell.
Daniel Andrews says “I couldn’t think of anything more distressing for victim survivors.”
Yep.
#Pell
56
281
2K
Annastacia Palaszczuk exercising a modicum of caution before agreeing to deliberately infect 1000s of children with Covid, who cannot be vaccinated, doesn't seem to be particularly controversial to me.
40
441
2K
I think we can all agree that Channel 9 should never ever host a debate again.
If only we had a national broadcaster to treat this process with some respect and professionalism.
Hang your head in shame Channel 9. This is appalling.
#leadersdebate
81
465
2K
I did not see this coming. Bill Shorten announces retirement from politics. Will remain in Cabinet until February.
This is a significant loss for Labor.
He is one of their best on policy detail and he's always across his portfolio.
We're a lesser country for his 2019 loss.
334
431
2K
The significant number of empty seats at CPAC in Sydney, the conservative conference for intolerance, anti-science, racism, bigotry, and a dash of conspiracy, must be highly disappointing for the organisers.
This American conservative shit-fest looks ridiculous in Australia.
228
471
2K
@JoshFrydenberg
There’s still a seat for you at the Kooyong Community Forum in the Hawthorn Town Hall tonight.
As a reminder, that’s the event that every single candidate for the seat of Kooyong is facing the community.
Except for you.
41
453
2K
I never thought I'd say this sentence, but, "I agree with Amanda Vanstone".
Imagine if Penny Wong, Bridget McKenzie, Linda Reynolds or Pauline Hanson behaved like Barnaby. The double standard from colleagues and the media is mind boggling. As is his apparent incapacity to see the damage he does to himself, ,his party and parliament
385
354
2K
104
348
2K
Babet is moronic.
It's a failure of our political system that such an imbecile ends up in our Parliament.
382
330
2K
Brittany Higgins, a Liberal staffer accuses Bruce Lerhmann, also a Liberal staffer of sexual assault in Liberal Minister Linda Reynolds' office.
Without explanation, the sofa in Linda Reynolds' office undergoes cleaning the following day.
1/
101
519
2K
George Pell is dead. He came to embody the institutional failures of the Catholic Church.
He didn’t act when he knew children were being sexually abused.
I believe those who accused Pell of sexually abusing them.
He destroyed lives. This will be his legacy.
#pell
78
378
2K
Why does Andrew Bolt continually go into bat for those accused of sexual abuse and punch down on those who say they were abused?
Why does Murdoch keep publishing Andrew Bolt and others when they do it?
190
335
2K
After watching too much of the house of reps and the senate today, I can confirm that the LNP have learnt not a single fucking thing from their historic loss.
145
273
2K
Telling middle Australia that you're going to strip them of a tax cut, and give it to the wealthiest Australians is quite a strange election strategy Sussan.
But, please, go ahead.
192
538
2K
The first time a Finnish PM has visited Australia, and this interview wastes time on a media beat-up about the PM dancing.
I'd rather know why Finland has the best education system in the world, where kids have less homework and no standardised testing.
"I went dancing with my friends. I still don't think that was something terrible that I did." - Finland’s Prime Minister
@MarinSanna
.
#abc730
@FergusonNews
1K
178
2K
175
385
2K
James Newbury has been unsuccessfully trying to give away Australian flags on Brighton pier this morning.
100s of people here, and after walking the length of the pier and back, he seems to have as many as he started with.
At some point, you need to reflect. Surely?
422
334
2K
You know what I do when a shop doesn't sell something I want to buy?
I buy it from a different shop.
Follow me to learn other life changing skills.
102
247
2K
Is this the greatest scandal in Victoria's electoral system?
Next election, run as an Independent, and the largest single donation you can receive is $4850.
The Liberal you run against can access $118M from the Lib's biggest donor: The Cormack Foundation.
Who is Cormack?..
/1
93
821
2K
Matthew Guy in the leaders debate says that it's important to have a Premier who listens to you.
207
526
2K
If Lib candidate Nathan Conroy thinks the Liberals "went high" in Dunkley, he is fucking delusional.
This result confirms one thing;
Victorians do not believe a word Advance Australia says. They see them for the billionaire funded, lying, race-baiting science deniers they are.
75
445
2K
@sussanley
@AlboMP
Speaking of electricity prices, can you identify one of the 20 energy policies your party failed to land in a decade of government?
As a bonus question, did your party ask the regulator to delay the release of increased electricity prices until after the election?
36
300
2K
The LNP were ok with a man accused of rape remaining on the front bench, but kick off when a Greens MP sits in Parliament without a tie.
49
409
2K
David Southwick, who owns 17 investment properties, has been appointed by John Pesutto as Shadow Minister for 'Cost of Living'.
I guess if anyone knows about housing costs, it's David, because he has 17 of them.
162
671
2K
The Royal Commission found that George Pell was aware of kids being sexually abused.
In Feb, he will speak at an event that aims for Christianity to dominate Australia.
He protected paedophiles before kids.
The propensity for Christians to support him is completely baffling.
105
521
2K
This Saturday, choose a Leader, not Liberal.
#Mon4Kooyong
15/15
Credit to
@squizzstk
for these videos. Squizz does an outstanding job of compiling footage. Please follow if you're not already.
90
315
2K
Dave seems to have removed something from his signs for the 2022 election.
242
507
2K
Paul Kelly opposed the Royal Commission into Child Sexual abuse.
He opposed marriage equality.
He used his position to defend Christian Porter.
Now he opposes The Voice.
It's always the same people on the wrong side of history. Leave them in the past where they belong.
163
604
2K
The meltdown over Sam Mostyn's appointment by the same people silent on the current GG's involvement with Morrison's 5 Ministries is delicious.
And, don't forget the controversial $18M grant Morrison gave to the GG's 'foundation'.
Reminder via
@RonniSalt
70
669
2K
Anthony Albanese on Peter Dutton:
“There is no issue too big, for him to not show how small he is.”
Nailed it.
47
514
2K
Chris Bowen has expertly, and possibly inadvertently exposed David Speers running LNP talking points.
Chris Bowen is all over his brief thie morning. I'd argue this was his best performance.
#insiders
115
418
2K
It’s weird that the stage 3 tax cuts that put an extra $9000 a year in the pocket of those earning $210k is not an inflationary issue, but paying the lowest paid workers an extra $1 an hour is economic vandalism.
#auspol
43
695
2K
In the NT, booths managed by the remote mobile teams consisting of a higher proportion of Indigenous Australians returned a Yes of 71.9%.
The rest of the NT was 32.6%.
More analysis need, but it's clear Indigenous support is overwhelmingly Yes. Don't believe the lies.
#insiders
96
809
2K
Had a couple of days in Brisbane, and nobody recommended I use the train to get to the airport, despite being over the road from Fortitude Valley station.
This made me curious.
So I touched on with a credit card, waited 3 mins, and arrived at the airport 18 mins later.
293
179
2K
At 1pm today, more than 80% of South Australia's electricity requirement was being provided by rooftop solar.
That's quite remarkable.
101
388
2K
Dan Tehan says immigration over 4 years has been too high.
The LNP lost government 1 year and 10 months ago.
#insiders
102
449
2K
Brad Hazzard, 'You can't legislate against stupidity, arrogance and entitlement.'
Perhaps not, but it appears you can elect it.
57
455
2K
Governor General David Hurley says he had no reason to believe that Scott wouldn’t publicise his Ministry appointments.
You’d think that David would have worked it out by the 5th time.
85
331
2K
Fiona Patten to introduce a motion on 4th Aug to have the lord's prayer removed from Vic Parliament.
Martyn Iles, MD of the Australian Christian Lobby says it's important for Victorian MPs to acknowledge the power of God.
No. Religion has no place in lawmaking. Get rid of it.
106
345
2K
The money paid to Brittany Higgins was compensation. The amount was agreed in mediation, and as a result, a court case was avoided.
It's absolutely none of Andrew Bolt's business.
Bolt didn't dedicate a page to Attorney General Christian Porter's secret trust.
166
414
2K
The inability of the Victorian Libs to act decisively today on Moira Deeming makes it clear that John Pesutto doesn't have support of the party room.
The Liberal Party 'broad church' translates into a home for homophobes, transphobes and nazi sympathisers.
The party is dead.
144
479
2K
After 6 months as Liberal Opposition Leader, Alexander Downer's approval rating plunged from 53% to 34%, and his leadership was over.
After only 3 months, Peter Dutton is already down to 17%. That's twice as bad as Downer, in half the time.
165
445
2K
Caroline Marcus at SkyNews is doubling down having been accused of not disclosing the backstory of the man she interviewed who said he felt intimidated by a Palestinian Flag pin worn by a Qantas flight attendant.
Here's 2 parts of Caroline doubling down. You be the judge....
/1
104
504
2K
Suspect this bloke wouldn't have been so angry about a woman wearing an Indigenous t-shirt if conservative lobby group Advance Australia & friends hadn't told him he should be angry about it.
This is the rage they're manufacturing.
(Source: 7 reporter Jacqui Felgate on Insta)
468
368
2K
As Josh and his team handed out Liberal Party tote bags behind me, I offered the people of Kooyong some useful information about Dr Monique Ryan to put in them.
We don't have free empty bags to give away. Just the opportunity to take climate change and govt integrity seriously.
77
262
2K
What Ministerial standard would an MP in Scott's government have to breach to actually be fired?
Is there one?
299
296
2K
Why has no journalist asked Josh Frydenberg who has anonymously donated more than $1M now seemingly being used to fund the most expensive local billboard campaign for a single seat in the history of Australian elections?
What do these mystery donors get?
102
523
2K
How much longer will Dutton last?
Attending Pell’s funeral, prevaricating on The Voice, and picking a fight over King Charles not being on the $5 note seem like bizarre acts of self sabotage.
He seems spectacularly out of touch.
221
232
2K
Josh Frydenberg has refused to attend the
#KooyongVotes
Candidates Forum but all of the other candidates are.
I have many questions of Josh, but he won't face the electorate and journalists never ask him.
Am I meant to stand at Kew junction yelling questions at his billboards?
115
459
2K
This is how law enforcement works Ralph.
The Police force that charged you with unlawful assault in 2015 (which you pleaded guilty to) would be part of the same Police force investigating if a crime was perpetrated against you.
It's not rocket science, is it?
90
319
2K
Describing his popularity as a cult reveals a deep-seated frustration at Murdoch media.
Despite having the full weight of Sky, the Herald Sun and the Australian focused on removing Dan, he increased his lead each time and exposed News Corp for the Liberal propagandist it is.
167
391
2K
When I observe Tim Smith, Matthew Guy and Josh Fryenberg have a huge whinge today, I'm reminded that throughout, their strongest wish has been for Victoria to fail.
Not only have we had to fight a pandemic, we've had to endure our elected representatives sabotaging us.
2/4
31
322
2K
None of Tim's tweets from today remain.
It's ok Tim, I've got them.
139
395
2K