Sir Lunchalot Owl did a little calculating at lunch yesterday on the wondrful potential of the Liberal Party's plans to allow small businesses to each claim an annual $20,000 for lunches and other entertaining. With his calculator and immaculate printing on a restaurant napkim he worked out that Australia's 2,589,595 small businesses could get a tax free $51,791,900,000,000 from this planned government generosity. See

Most young people are in favour of turning the UK into a dictatorship, according to a “deeply worrying” study, which has revealed an acceptance of authoritarianism and radicalism among Generation Z. Is Australia any different?

Labor silent about Baby Penguin crisis The baby Penguins of Bicheno are dying of starvation and federal Environment Minister Tania Plibersek remains silent about the crisis. See more at

A depressing read in The New York Times for this 82 year old: The Devastating Legacy of Lies in Alzheimer’s Science. "Over the past 25 years, Alzheimer’s research has suffered a litany of ostensible fraud and other misconduct by world-famous researchers and obscure scientists alike, all trying to ascend in a brutally competitive field."

Lured onto Tik Tok by Peter Dutton There's a first time for everything even for an 82 year old. Today it was Tik Tok. Finally ventured to this much publicised site after a friendly referral to a story titled Spud Stands on his Record. It told how "Peter Spud Dutton, the joyless eeew tuber and social media phobe, has taken to TikTok." I could not resist and went searching. More at

I could not agree more with this verdict on Trump: "Donald Trump is a slob, a cheat, a lawbreaker, a bully, a careless liar, a cheap jingoist and a very dangerous politician indeed. He appeals to the dark side, the chaos in human nature. His presidency may prove a disaster for the United States and a threat to the free world."

Sir Lunchalot’s Comeback The long lunch might be in for a comeback. Liberal leader Peter Dutton promises to provide small businesses with a yearly tax deduction of up to $20,000 for taking clients out to restaurants, cafes and pubs See

Will Lebanon elect a new president after two-year vacancy?

Residents of seaside towns forced to put barbed wire on windowsills to deter flocks of aggressive seagulls have drawn up a strategy to protect tourists.

Lebanon’s Year of Living Ambiguously via @nybooks After reading this tightly written piece I at least have some understanding of the horrors of Lebanon with its evil Hezbollah faction.

Surely it is now official - the world has gone mad. "Marian Tompson founded La Leche League, the world’s leading breastfeeding support network, 68 years ago. Now she’s left amid rows over biological males attending group sessions and lessons in ‘chestfeeding’"

Clean bowled - Punter denied a $30,000 payout A reminder that the big corporate bookmakers don't allow winners.

@Frunobulaxe I remember it fondly

@Austdiscovered Itwas, it was

@Frunobulaxe Itwas, it was

Small plates, big bill? That’s the Ozempic effect Brexit, Covid, then inflation … now weight-loss drugs are pushing up menu prices, and your nice little local will suffer first.

@TraceyLeeHolmes Listening to Tracey Holmes on this subject makes me miss even more her absence from ABC radio. Her report gives the context that is necessary to get behind the tabloid headlines.

Stand out in the herd! Try a small batch Shiraz from the classic Barossa vintage of 2018.