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Somehow or other I seem to have shares in IAG, the insurance company. I can't remember how I got them. As I was looking at my bank statement the other day, I noticed a deposit of a bit over $20.00 from IAG. It's not a massive amount, but as my Dad used to say, 'small fish are sweet'.

This is rare - someone has actually reduced their annual fees this year. The RACQ has reduced my membership plan fees by $20. This was at the head of the bill: 'Thank you for your continued trust in RACQ. We’re proud to support our members with dependable service and peace of mind on the road, wherever your journey takes you. As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering value and in response to ongoing cost of living pressures, we’ve reduced the price of our Roadside Assistance products. Whether you’re commuting locally or exploring Queensland’s hidden gems, we’re here to ensure you’re covered with reliable support and member-first value.' Most likely they've had a membership drop, no doubt due to those cost of living pressures they cite, and are doing this to encourage members to stay. Either way, it's a good thing to see.

Way off the mark.

That's right, death to America.

What a tiny boner? 😄

what a hand biter. Nev

Very good.

Cast your mind back to September 1, 1983. Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was on a routine flight from New York to Seoul via Anchorage. It accidentally crossed into Soviet airspace. At the time, NATO had a policy of continually flying its bombers directly at Eastern Bloc airspace and then diverting at the last possible moment. The Soviets were kept on perpetual high alert. When Flight 007 accidentally crossed over the line, the Soviets, fearing an American bomber incursion, shot the plane out of the sky. The 269 civilian passengers died. The world seemed to be teetering on disaster. On September 22, 1983, the Toronto Disarmament Network issued a public warning of the danger of escalating tensions: “A miscalculation, a computer error, an itchy trigger finger could lead to the murder of not hundreds but millions of innocent civilians.” (WW3) In the immediate aftermath of the Korean jetliner disaster, the Soviets anticipated a retaliatory action, and their radar crews were trained to respond quickly in the event of a serious incursion. The crews knew that if they hesitated, the Soviets would be wiped out in a first-wave attack. On September 26, 1983, Soviet radar crews detected a large group of incoming missiles. But Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov broke protocol by refusing to immediately launch the counter-strike. He suspected the blips on the screen might be some kind of computer error. Petrov was correct. Had the automatic rapid military response been controlled by A.I. You would not be reading this now. It is equally possible that human error might start MAD WW3. But I cannot trust computer to control it. In Iran, a missile landed on a park that was marked on the town map as "Police Park". It is alleged the target was chosen by A.I. Which begs the question "who targetted the school, human or A.I."?

They go way back.

Correct.

NO Laws apply to Trump. Nev

Yep , agree emu, never been a surprise to me half the world hates the Yanks , poss' more than half. Even in this now , they've done twice now in just a few mths what the whole world is pissed about Russia doing in Ukr, not to mention all the other trouble Russias done. And l know on the other hand there's the terrorism and nuke side of it but never the less, Russias come out with all that stuff to. He wants UKr disarmed to, hell he'd have all the Boltics disarmed if he could , and the rest. But eh, next breath rumps racing off about the oil or minerals or controlling ths controlling that anyway. Not that l'm knowing how the US or anyone should handle say Iran or other things no idea what the answers are but l do know the Yanks haven't been much better and it's no surprise as l say they're so hated. Couldn't even tell me Russia/Putin even likes Rump or the west, nor would China truly, l think they both despise them actually and Rump but just have to work with them. Middle east , Arabs, all of them also def despises him and the US deep down is my guess.

The AI company, Anthropic, which owns Claude, is suing the US Government. It says that as part of its contract details bans the use of its AI for the deploying weapons unless the go ahead to fire was given by a human. Of course, Trump and Hegseth are ignoring that contract detail. In response to Anthropic's lawsuit, which still has to be dealt with in Court, Trump has decreed that Anthropic cna no longer be granted government contracts.

The actions of the Party through its Gestapo have been compared to the recent actions of ICE agents in the Land of the Free. The USA has been doing things that towrads the end of the 20th Century came to be defined as terrorism since the late 19th Century. Remember the Spanish-American War when the USA attacked the Spanish territory of Cuba and at the end gained control of the Phillipines. Not to forget, either, the interference of the USA in just about every South American country as each gained independence from its colonial rulers.

The one I thought at first was a An-124 is definitely not so. It's an old Boeing 747-100 by the look of it. This article says the world's last operational 747-100 was destroyed in the strikes on the airport. https://www.sofx.com/israeli-strikes-destroy-worlds-last-operational-boeing-747-100-in-tehran/

Yeah right , you might think in being careful not to damage them then butttt, then again , the parts could be anything to so they don't want anything damaged. Don't know , know nothing about the aircraft business but it does make sense them being close to the workshops bc they sure don't look like they'll be flown anywhere.

Looking at the clearer photo in that Iranian link posted above, it doesn't look like any are stacked with a crane. It looks more like they all fit in with the varying height of the wings and tailplanes. Maybe the big one is a 747 and not an An-124.

From Google AI: 'Over 20 decommissioned, "cannibalized" aircraft have been parked at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport for over a decade due to international sanctions, which hinder maintenance and parts procurement. Mehrabad International Airport also serves as a major graveyard, with satellite images showing damaged or abandoned planes from Boeing, Airbus, and other manufactures.' https://www.iranintl.com/en/202309292594

On the otherside of the coin Boeing and Airbus use, or did use, Russian made parts. They were doing so only a handful of years ago, don't know if they still are. I know they made undercarriages and brake systems. Russia had high hopes for the big joint venture with Boeing they were building, but I think going to war with Ukraine stuffed that.

I had a look on Google Maps and zoomed in on high res, and that's exactly what it is - a big pile of scrap. Some have been craned on top of others. The big one is an An-124. It's most likely a section of the airport where all the workshops are. It would be a variety of scrapped planes not worth fixing or in the case of US and Ukrainian (Antonov) planes, they can't get vital parts. I remember back when Iran and Russia were looking at a deal for Iran to license build the Sukhoi Superjet and the US knocked the plan on the head as they had the veto call due to the percentage of US made parts in the Sukhoi. I forget the percentage, I think it's around 10 or 15 percent content and they can block things. At the time I was surprised at how many airliners Iran has and needs for domestic use.

Finally! My bank account looks like a telephone number. $0.00.

Yeah, was looking at that too. If it's a google satellite shot though, well ldk. That batch in the middle though how would they even get them placed like that ? But at the same time, if they're just spares wouldn't they just be out in a paddock? That's smack in the middle of the complex.

I'd say they are all scrapped aircraft just stacked there as a source of parts. With sanctions they need every spare nut and bolt they can get.

On another note , reports on just how gob smacking it is that Rump just totally dismissed Vlad helping Iran , brushed it off as a no big deal. He's assisting them in attacking the US but still, ahhh, no big deal. Unbelievable ! Meanwhile, Rump went broke on some 45mil project 7 yrs back, couldn't sell it, the Russians turned up and offered him double the ask price so 90mil. They gave other examples to of the Russians bailing him out with big money even before his was Pres the first time soooo, not only is he in love with Vlad anyway buttt they own him basically too. ps, they cert backed aa winner on that one didn't they eh, now he's the President, again, and they're getting away with murder- literally.