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Kat Franklin

@katfranklin

I watch too much TV* & drink too much wine**, trust in experts and science and support a free press*** *On a media blackout since Nov 6 **Way more since Nov 6 ***Very worried about state of press (see result Nov 6) Melbourne, Australia

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15.10.2023
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Latest posts by Kat Franklin @katfranklin

Harmless and beneficial - unless you find them in the bottom of your gumboot - then they are just squishy and gross.

28.01.2026 23:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Looks like a leopard slug :-)

28.01.2026 23:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Twitter thread in Spanish by Josรฉ Mario de la Garza, a human rights lawyer in Mexico, translated using Google Translate:

1. Overthrowing a dictator sounds morally right. No one mourns a tyrant. But international law wasn't built to protect the good, but to restrain the powerful. That's why it prohibits force almost without exception: not because it ignores injustice, but because it knows that if each country decides whom to "liberate" by force, the world reverts to the law of the strongest.

2. The problem is not Maduro. The problem is the precedent. When military force is used to change governments without clear rules, sovereignty ceases to be a limit and becomes an obstacle. Today it is โ€œoverthrowing a dictatorโ€; tomorrow it will be โ€œcorrecting an election,โ€ โ€œprotecting interests,โ€ โ€œrestoring order.โ€ The law does not absolve dictatorships, but neither does it legitimize unilateral crusades.

Twitter thread in Spanish by Josรฉ Mario de la Garza, a human rights lawyer in Mexico, translated using Google Translate: 1. Overthrowing a dictator sounds morally right. No one mourns a tyrant. But international law wasn't built to protect the good, but to restrain the powerful. That's why it prohibits force almost without exception: not because it ignores injustice, but because it knows that if each country decides whom to "liberate" by force, the world reverts to the law of the strongest. 2. The problem is not Maduro. The problem is the precedent. When military force is used to change governments without clear rules, sovereignty ceases to be a limit and becomes an obstacle. Today it is โ€œoverthrowing a dictatorโ€; tomorrow it will be โ€œcorrecting an election,โ€ โ€œprotecting interests,โ€ โ€œrestoring order.โ€ The law does not absolve dictatorships, but neither does it legitimize unilateral crusades.

Contโ€™d:

3. The uncomfortable question is not whether a tyrant deserves to fall, but who decides when and how. Because history teaches something brutal: removing a dictator is easy; building justice afterward is not. And when legality is broken in the name of good, what almost always follows is not freedom, but chaos, violence, and new victims. The law exists to remind us of this, even when it makes us uncomfortable.

Contโ€™d: 3. The uncomfortable question is not whether a tyrant deserves to fall, but who decides when and how. Because history teaches something brutal: removing a dictator is easy; building justice afterward is not. And when legality is broken in the name of good, what almost always follows is not freedom, but chaos, violence, and new victims. The law exists to remind us of this, even when it makes us uncomfortable.

Maduro isn't the problem: he's the face of the problem. Removing him from power would be merely opening the door. Behind him is the machine: Rodrรญguez, Cabello, the military command, the operators of repression and plunder. If you only change the person at the top and leave the system intact, what follows isn't democracy: it's a reshuffling.

And there's something even more difficult: Chavismo didn't just capture institutions, it captured daily life. Economy, media, bureaucracy, employment, fear, favors, blackmail. A country can't be "de-Chavistaized" by decree or by an electoral miracle. The real transition begins when that network is broken without setting the country ablaze.

The challenge is enormous, and it's also a moral one: to unite without vengeance, but without impunity. Targeted justice for those most responsible, truth for the victims, guarantees that the rest will dismantle the system, and a plan for people to live againโ€”not just survive. Because freedom doesn't come with a new president: it comes when the state ceases to be a threat.

Maduro isn't the problem: he's the face of the problem. Removing him from power would be merely opening the door. Behind him is the machine: Rodrรญguez, Cabello, the military command, the operators of repression and plunder. If you only change the person at the top and leave the system intact, what follows isn't democracy: it's a reshuffling. And there's something even more difficult: Chavismo didn't just capture institutions, it captured daily life. Economy, media, bureaucracy, employment, fear, favors, blackmail. A country can't be "de-Chavistaized" by decree or by an electoral miracle. The real transition begins when that network is broken without setting the country ablaze. The challenge is enormous, and it's also a moral one: to unite without vengeance, but without impunity. Targeted justice for those most responsible, truth for the victims, guarantees that the rest will dismantle the system, and a plan for people to live againโ€”not just survive. Because freedom doesn't come with a new president: it comes when the state ceases to be a threat.

Best thing Iโ€™ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.

03.01.2026 14:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 2815 ๐Ÿ” 1357 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 40 ๐Ÿ“Œ 105

Zero overnight tonight in Yarra Valley. It's nearly November!

27.10.2025 06:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

So there is a line some Republicans won't cross?

Not clear to me what it is.... Can't be unqualified or Nazi/Tate sympathiser as that hasn't prevented other nominations going forward.

Could it be there is a limit to the number of red flags they are willing to overlook? Surprise, surprise!

22.10.2025 01:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I got such a fright when I checked in earlier! But luckily there was just the smallest white bit of fluff on the other camera. Unlike now, where they are all completely in the blind spot. Stressful!

15.10.2025 03:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I miss Kerry O'Brien so much.
And Barrie Cassidy ๐Ÿ˜”

12.10.2025 23:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This was a defining moment for me. Up until that point, I had always thought that whatever policy differences I had with the LNP, politicians were people of integrity who were working for all Australians. That he was rewarded with the election win broke my heart.

11.09.2025 07:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I also struggled with the "no guns vs the other stuff" legacy of Howard and agree I would take no guns if I had to choose. I do wonder though, how much of that was actually him. Would a different PM (LNP or Labor) have done the same thing at the same time. We will never know, but I hope so.

11.09.2025 06:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Jewish Council Rejects Special Envoyโ€™s antisemitism plan The Jewish Council of Australia has today warned that the newly released Special Envoyโ€™s Plan to Combat Antisemitism risks undermining [โ€ฆ]

The Jewish Council of Australia has warned the ... Special Envoyโ€™s Plan to Combat Antisemitism risks undermining Australiaโ€™s democratic freedoms, inflaming community divisions, and entrenching selective approaches to racism that serve political agendas.

www.jewishcouncil.com.au/2025/07/jewi...

10.07.2025 09:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 182 ๐Ÿ” 90 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6 ๐Ÿ“Œ 7

Thank you for this thread ๐Ÿ˜Š

13.05.2025 22:01 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Bring me my pale horse for I am one of the goddesses of destruction.

Truly did not realise the apocalyptic power in my hands until now. #auspol ๐Ÿ’€

24.04.2025 03:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 339 ๐Ÿ” 70 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 78 ๐Ÿ“Œ 9
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Over 3,700 mutuals follow this hacked account > @and60.bsky.social

It was once the account of @strangerous.bsky.social but was hacked, taken over and renamed @and60.bsky.social

If you're following it, you're supporting a thief & a hacker

The original Stranger is now: @strangerous10.bsky.social

21.04.2025 23:01 ๐Ÿ‘ 663 ๐Ÿ” 295 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 223 ๐Ÿ“Œ 25

<quietly deletes partially written leopard eating face reply>

15.04.2025 22:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 16 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Please don't stop there... It was just getting good. What happens next?

09.04.2025 12:10 ๐Ÿ‘ 20 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Biggest commitment to a 3 second joke I've ever seen

09.04.2025 06:33 ๐Ÿ‘ 91067 ๐Ÿ” 28400 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 885 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1329

WordPerfect was a different program (not Microsoft) and was 1 million times better. I will die on this hill.

09.04.2025 11:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Oh no... He just lost all of the Real Housewives' votes....nobody threatens the Cristal!!

13.03.2025 12:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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You canโ€™t make this stuff up. The level of incompetence coming from the Trump administration is staggering. Cruel and staggering.

18.02.2025 23:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 89 ๐Ÿ” 34 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
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โšก๏ธ The historic moment of Estonia leaving the Russian-fed power grid.

On February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia left Russia and Belarus energy system. By the end of the day today, they will have joined the European grid.

09.02.2025 09:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 21539 ๐Ÿ” 4526 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 441 ๐Ÿ“Œ 440
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Marbury v Madison is a seminal case from 1803 that holds that the federal courts must determine the constitutionality of the actions of the other two branches of government. Hope that helps, Stephen.

09.02.2025 23:17 ๐Ÿ‘ 31136 ๐Ÿ” 7359 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1274 ๐Ÿ“Œ 384

A Louisiana mum has been charged with helping her child safely terminate a pregnancy. They will take that good mum & put her in jail. Trans, gay & non-binary kids are being told they wonโ€™t be allowed to exist. Qld is following. Sharpen your wits, nails & teeth. Earrings out. Itโ€™s on.

01.02.2025 11:18 ๐Ÿ‘ 368 ๐Ÿ” 99 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 15 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Pin this, save it, weโ€™ll need it.

โ€œWhen a prison camp opens in your townโ€ฆwhen a DREAMer is disappeared from your classroomโ€ฆwhen the President destroys whatโ€™s left of the Constitutionโ€ฆThey will all say they didnโ€™t know this was coming. And I want the American people to know that they did.โ€

AOC ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐ŸŽฏ

22.01.2025 21:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 93451 ๐Ÿ” 30431 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2438 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1771
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If she can do it, we can all do it.

22.01.2025 10:43 ๐Ÿ‘ 93903 ๐Ÿ” 13328 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1677 ๐Ÿ“Œ 835
Call log showing multiple calls from the dept of justice

Call log showing multiple calls from the dept of justice

Sergeant Gonell @sergeantaqgo.bsky.social sent me this picture. This is his call log. Each call is an automated Dept of "Justice" notification saying "The defendant you testified against is being released from the dept of corrections."
Each defendant assaulted him.

21.01.2025 15:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 20102 ๐Ÿ” 10622 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1861 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1531

Anybody know what the "Her Truth dot com" website on the ad is about? Who is "Her"? (I don't what to visit the site and increase their traffic.) Thanks :-)

12.12.2024 01:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Divide or unite?
My @smh @theage cartoon.

10.12.2024 20:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 959 ๐Ÿ” 345 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 47 ๐Ÿ“Œ 14

๐Ÿ“Œ

03.12.2024 10:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The key word is "visually". It pays to look under the bonnet. Where was it made, what is it made from? Your kids might inherit the $3k table, the copy might fall apart. Problem is, we are a disposable society now & nobody wants to pay for something that lasts; style changes, toss it & get a new one.

26.11.2024 11:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

My word of the day (and personal recommendation) is โ€˜snerdlingโ€™ (18th century): nestling cosily beneath the covers and holding off the day a little longer.

Morning.

16.11.2024 09:05 ๐Ÿ‘ 23430 ๐Ÿ” 3185 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 859 ๐Ÿ“Œ 595