Opinion Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News. “Never read the comments.” It’s advice you often hear being given to prospective newspaper columnists or occasional contributors to the opinion pages about the need to brace themselves for the free-wheeling mosh pit that is unfettered feedback from the general public. It’s a sentiment with which I have never agreed, nor one I have understood. The comments are often the best part of a column. As columnists we should be honoured that people take the time to comment, whether we agree with their feedback or not. The comments are often funny. They’re insightful. They are frequently completely over the top. They can be personally abusive. Bring it on. Bring all of it on. To the readers I say go your hardest; to the writers, toughen up, princesses. Occasionally you read comments which are completely moronic. Comments from people who have totally missed every point you have made, and need to have the column re-read to them by a sentient adult. You also read comments which are based on false information or lies. Covid was a good time for that if you were a columnist writing in support of vaccinations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman It was a red rag to every wellness weirdo and conspiracy nut out there, and they had a jolly old time of it jumping online saying that people like me had been “got to” by the likes of Anthony Fauci, the WHO cabal, and the faceless millionaire monsters running Big Pharma. When you write about issues involving race or religion, you invite comments which are sometimes demonstrably untrue, based on crap that does the rounds of the internet. You could classify some of those comments as disinformation or misinformation. Here’s where things get interesting – and politically dangerous – for our federal government. The last thing the Albanese government needs, given the way it’s going, is a new political headache. If it is not careful it will end up with one with its misinformation Bill. Like many things this government has done, or tried to do, it has been poorly explained. It seems to be a triumph of good intentions over practical implementation. And it risks impinging on one of our most important freedoms of all, freedom of speech. Now a lot of people would say that Elon Musk is a power-hungry, egotistical whack job who has turned Twitter, as X, into a clearing house for crackpot and extreme content around politics, crypto, vaccinations, lockdowns, with the racy added extra of a significant increase in smut. Some say the blogosphere is dangerous as it has no barriers for entry and no checks or balances meaning any old bit of deluded or dangerous nonsense can find its way into print. I will tell you what is more dangerous than all of the above combined – the federal government Department of Misinformation and Disinformation. A state-owned entity hovering above us all, telling us what we can and cannot say. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at a campaign rally for US President-elect Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP Now, the federal government has said that news organisations are exempt from these proposed new rules. But what is a “news organisation” and what is “news”. Is news an article? Is it a letter to the editor? Is it any one of your comments published online on the bottom of this piece? These are not rhetorical or mischievous questions. They’re the same questions every major news organisation, and the Australian Press Council and the Human Rights Commission have all put in relation to the mystery surrounding Albo’s disinformation Bill. Frankly, I am not even sure what the difference is between mis- and dis-information either. There have clearly been issues where false information spread online has been linked to terrible social outcomes. Indeed much of the impetus for this discussion internationally came from the stabbing in England of young children at a Taylor Swift dance concert earlier this year, where false information was spread like wildfire online wrongly decrying this outrage as an act of Islamic extremism. A cynic might argue that such baseless conclusions become more tempting when the politically-correct British Police has an ignoble history of trying to hush-up or airbrush genuine cases or Islamic terror from public discussion. It was a boy-who-cried-wolf scenario where the extreme right went hard on the basis of past PC silence in the face of uncomfortable truths. Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on July 30, 2024 in Southport, England. Picture: Getty Images/Getty Images Misinformation fighting an absence of honest information. Cans of worms don’t get larger than the one contained in this Albanese government brain bubble. The idea that the job can fall to government to decide what people can and cannot say is anathema in a democracy, end of story. And this isn’t some self-interested piece on my part, as my understanding of the Bill is that while columnists such as me could still write freely, the commentary pieces like this attracts may not. But to end in the joyful world of the comments section. The best argument against what the feds are considering comes from the comments section itself. It is the ultimate self-regulatory environment. If you get an accolade from a piece that’s been generally well-received, dozens of people will hit ‘like’ on that comment. If you get a powerfully-written counterargument from someone telling you you’ve missed the point, or are full of it, dozens of people will ‘like’ that too. But the truly nutty comments, the delusional comments pointing to conspiracies and making laughable claims – barely anyone (if anyone) ‘likes’ them because they are demonstrably stupid and absurd. Far better to let the readers judge for themselves than to go down the Orwellian path of filling some grey building in Canberra’s outer suburbs with an army of thought-police, making sure no-one is speaking impurely against the mandated strictures of the government of the day. More Coverage Labor trying to ‘ram through’ misinformation bill James Morrow Originally published as Governments deciding what we can and can’t say is anathema to democracy. End of story | David Penberthy David Penberthy Columnist David Penberthy is a columnist with The Advertiser and Sunday Mail, and also co-hosts the FIVEaa Breakfast show. He's a former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Mail and news.com.au. @penbo David Penberthy Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Opinion Why trans U-turn is a ray of hope in woke US If the Democrats do their walk of shame, learn their lesson and start to listen to ordinary people instead of lecturing them, then people like AOC might just be AOK, writes Joe Hildebrand. Read more Opinion This is every parents’ worst nightmare but we have to let them go While many Aussie parents are freaking out about their teenagers’ first coming of age trip, we can’t wrap them in cotton wool for life, writes Julie Cross. Read more
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.
With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape. You’d be in good company, too — according to a January 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center, of the 30% of Americans who made at least one New Year’s resolution, 61% had a goal that was money-related. Right now, you may be highly motivated to solve every single one of your money issues in the next few months, but daily life is guaranteed to get in the way. Your financial to-do list, once so full of promise, can eventually get stuffed in the back of a drawer while you manage more pressing matters. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions go unfulfilled. So how can you improve your odds of success? It comes down to accepting that you won’t have the time or energy to complete every task to perfection. Creating a system where you can prioritize, plan ahead and hold yourself accountable can help. Many start by setting a goal to trim frivolous costs, which can certainly be helpful, but there are other ways to make a big difference. Taylor Schult — a certified financial planner and founder of Define Financial, an advisory firm in San Diego — recommends starting with a few overlooked financial tasks. Freezing your credit is a quick, easy way to guard yourself against identity theft. It’s free to do, and you can temporarily lift the freeze when you’re applying for a loan or credit card. Schulte also suggests looking into umbrella insurance , which offers additional coverage beyond what your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies provide. This coverage can spare you from massive out-of-pocket costs in the event you get sued. Basic estate planning, including creating a will, is another thing to put high on your list. Putting off this task can create a major headache for your loved ones if something happens to you unexpectedly. “I know it’s a pain point and it’s often kicked down the road,” Schulte says. Paying attention to your spending is always important, but don’t neglect taking steps to protect your money, yourself and your loved ones. So many money goals are born out of social pressure. You “should” want to save up to own a home, even if you’re happily renting. You “should” sacrifice short-term needs and wants to stash away as much as possible for retirement, even though it leaves you feeling deprived. But money goals should be tied to the things that matter most to you. If they aren’t, you’ll quickly lose interest. “If you don’t know what goals to choose, go back to your values and have them guide the goals you set,” says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner and founder of Beyond Your Hammock, a financial advisory firm in Boston. You can combine goal-setting with a little planning, so expenses are less likely to creep up on you throughout the year. Think about what expected costs will be coming up in the next six to 12 months, like recurring bills, vacations, anticipated home or car repairs, and other expenses. This approach allows you to set money aside each month to put toward planned costs, as well as longer-term goals. Forgetting your goals can be far too easy, so to make something stick, write it down . It can be as simple as a handwritten list you keep on the fridge, or online calendar reminders that will nudge you every so often. For time-sensitive goals, set deadlines. One tactic is to make multiple lists based on what you need to complete within the next week, month or three months. As time passes and you check off items, you can update the list. Enlist others’ help, too. Weekly or monthly household money meetings are useful if you’re completing financial tasks as a group. Or share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can serve as an accountability partner. Looping in loved ones can help keep you on track. “We don’t mind letting ourselves down,” Schulte says. “But we hate to let other people down.” It’s easy to get stuck in decision-making mode when trying to pick a high-yield savings account, credit card or possible investments, but eventually, you need to make a good-enough choice . Taking action now can have more of a positive effect on your life than waiting until you’ve painstakingly considered each option. Roberge says that though he’d prefer to optimize every financial decision, he doesn’t because if he did, he wouldn’t get things done. “Everything in moderation is one of the things that I live by,” he says. “Going to extremes in any one thing, at the detriment of other things that are important, doesn’t work long-term.” The article Got Money Goals for the New Year? Stay on Track With These Tips originally appeared on NerdWallet.Moreover, existing homeowners who are considering refinancing their mortgages to take advantage of lower interest rates should also take note of the changing market conditions. With interest rates on the rise, the potential savings from refinancing may be reduced, and it is important to evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the costs associated with refinancing at a higher rate.
The attacking trident is where the most excitement lies, with Mbappe, the prodigious French talent, forming a deadly partnership with Vinicius Junior on the wings. The duo's blistering pace and trickery are sure to cause havoc for the opposition defense. Upfront, Karim Benzema will lead the line and look to add to his impressive goal tally this season.
It takes a village to save a newspaper | Vince BzdekOWINGS MILLS, Md. — Asked if there was any special meaning to playing on Christmas for a second straight season, Lamar Jackson paused for several seconds before answering. That said it all. "I mean, it is," he finally replied, trying to be diplomatic. "That means we're good, but at the same time, I do want to celebrate at home sometimes with my family now. I don't want to be playing on Christmas all the time — not all the time." That sentiment seemed common among the Baltimore Ravens players this week as they prepared for their second consecutive Christmas road game. Jackson and his teammates will face the Houston Texans on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Kansas City Chiefs play at Pittsburgh. Games on Christmas aren't new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL's longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately, however, the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. There were three last year on a Monday, and this week there are two. The four teams in action this Wednesday all played this past Saturday, giving them a little more time to prepare. But each is still wrapping up a stretch of three games in 11 games. And for Baltimore and Kansas City — the teams spending the holiday on the road — this means a bit of a scramble to find time to celebrate with loved ones. "Santa hasn't come yet, but as far as my family, we traded gifts (over the weekend)," Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "(His wife) Brittany's a champ because I'm not there to help build the toys my family got, and the kids have opened up every single one of them." The Chiefs are playing on Christmas for a second year in a row, although they were at home last season. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley said there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum's house. Jackson's plan is to celebrate on Thursday. "I already celebrated Christmas with my family this past week," Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. "It's more about the thought of calling people Christmas morning and just going out there and being able to go out in front of my whole family and do what I love. That's how I'll celebrate." The Ravens also have celebrated a bit as a group already. "We actually had a team dinner last night here, which was really neat. And our chefs were incredible (with) what they put out there, so that was fun," coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "And we are going to have the ability for family members from the Houston area to come over for the team snack after we do a walkthrough (Tuesday) night." Don't expect Christmas games to go away any time soon. Netflix agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Playing on the holiday certainly gives teams a chance to be in the spotlight, although the Chiefs and Ravens already get plenty of that. The Ravens-Texans game features a halftime performance by Beyoncé. "Wasn't there a time when somebody was out peeking outside the locker room door during the Super Bowl or something like that? Was there some story on that?" Harbaugh said. "He got in trouble for it? There will be big trouble. I like Beyoncé, though. I can't say I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, but I think I like her." Jackson, seemingly unaware of Harbaugh's attempt to lay down the law about the halftime show, arrived at the microphone immediately after the coach. "I'm going to go out there and watch," the star quarterback said. "First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it's at our game — that's dope. I'm going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas."