Ablaze

04/05/2026

When the US used agent orange to defoliate Vietnamese jungle, why didn't the locals just cover the area in bedding. No one can ever find ANYTHING lost in bedding!

01/05/2026

Well done, arts graduates milking the Australian tax dollar, working at myGov: "basic" and "unacceptable" are two separate words. Buy a f****** dictionary, and look up f****** while you're at it.

30/04/2026

Hearing bells?

Trauma bonding is a complex psychological phenomenon, but when it is used as a deliberate tool for control and manipulation, it is most frequently associated with individuals who possess high levels of narcissistic, antisocial, or borderline personality traits.
​These individuals often follow a specific behavioral pattern that keeps a spouse in a state of emotional disorientation. Here is a breakdown of the profiles and tactics typically involved:
​The Manipulative Profile
​While anyone can exhibit toxic behaviors, those who systematically use trauma bonding often fall into these categories:
​The Narcissist: They use "love bombing" (extreme affection) followed by "devaluation" (insults or neglect). This creates a cycle where the spouse is constantly trying to earn back the initial "perfect" version of the partner.
​The Power-Dominant Personality: These individuals view relationships as a hierarchy. They use fear and intermittent reinforcement to ensure their spouse remains submissive and dependent.
​The Emotionally Volatile: Some manipulators use their own instability to control others, making the spouse feel responsible for "saving" them or keeping them calm.
​Tactics of Control
​A person using trauma bonding doesn't just act "mean"; they create an addictive emotional loop through these methods:
​Intermittent Reinforcement: This is the most powerful tool. The manipulator provides rewards (kindness, gifts, intimacy) at unpredictable intervals. Because the "good times" are rare, the spouse's brain prizes them more, similar to the psychology of gambling.
​Creating a Shared Enemy: They may isolate their spouse by claiming that everyone else—friends, family, or society—is against the couple, framing themselves as the only person the spouse can truly trust.
​The "Rescue" Dynamic: The manipulator often causes the distress (through an argument or threat) and then immediately offers comfort. This trains the spouse to look to their abuser for relief from the pain the abuser caused.
​Gaslighting: By distorting the spouse's reality, the manipulator makes the spouse doubt their own perceptions, leading them to rely entirely on the manipulator’s version of the truth.
​Why It Works
​From an evolutionary and biological standpoint, trauma bonding is a survival mechanism. When a person is under intense stress, their brain releases oxytocin (the bonding hormone) and dopamine (the reward chemical) during the "reconciliation" phase. Over time, the spouse becomes biochemically "hooked" on the relief that follows the mistreatment.
​Note: Identifying these patterns is often the first step toward breaking the cycle. Professional counseling with a therapist specializing in narcissistic abuse or domestic dynamics is frequently necessary to safely navigate and exit these types of relationships.

28/04/2026

How Nostradamus.

Bryan Ferry · More Than This - The Best Of Bryan Ferry And Roxy Music · Song · 1995

16/04/2026

If there's one* thing I HATE, it's surfing zeitgeist. It's destroyed a once genuine counter-culture.

*There's lots, actually.

11/04/2026

Gogol Bo****lo · Super Taranta! · Song · 2007

11/04/2026

Ha! Opening half the best.

09/04/2026

John Connor: [choking on tear gas]John Connor: Just leave me here. I'm not the one you want. You're wasting your time.Terminator: Incorrect. John Connor lead...

20/02/2026

Seriously? A hair dryer?

27/12/2025

She knows.

This month's shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach left Australia, and the West, saddened but not shocked.