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Who did you go to war with? Trump: “IRAN” And how did it end? Trump: “ I RAN”.

When I worked in Timor, I saw a family of 5 on a stepthru. No tank for junior, and mum sitting modestly riding sidesaddle on the rack at the back. They show us how underutilised our road transport is.

Thanks Wille. Not the sort of view that Tourism Australia would caption "Where the bloody ell are ya?" But it representative of a bloody lot of our wide brown land. When I first travelled the outback in my teens, all I saw was endless monotony. But the country grew on me. Now, I miss it too. We are heading to that country today.

He's back! I especially liked the last one. It's what's in the mind of many young blokes (and women) in the nightclub...

I was giving DT some slack to see what outcomes he achieved, but I have to concede that he is completely deranged.

This group of British newshounds have a brilliant takedown of Trumps peace agreement with Iran. In essence, he's spent multiple billions to achieve SFA. As the bloke says, in the peace agreement, there is absolutely NOTHING, as regards the following "requirements", originally set by Trump. 1. Regime Change 2. Human Rights and the protection of Iran's regime protesters 3. Free transit of the Straits of Hormuz to all shipping 4. The Iranian Ballistic Missile program being stopped 5. Nuclear weapon manufacturing being stopped However, Trump has now effectively PAID to restore the status quo, as regards America's greatest enemy, with the lifting of sanctions, and the return of Irans frozen assets, which amount to well over US$100B. Iran can now trade its oil freely on world markets, bringing in vast amounts of money, that will enable the regime to repair all the American damage, and build more armaments. Trump savages Obama for his "bad deal" with Iran over nuclear weapon manufacturing. This exercise of Trumps makes Obama's deal look like a winner, in comparison to Trumps latest balls-up. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1477523247022527

Hi onetrack. Your handle does ring a bell from decades ago, but I can't remember. Perhaps you may wish to pm me. On reading your appriasal, I get the distinct impression that you have not read my book and therefore have only the (wrong) "official" side which is complete disinformation. I have never seen myself as another Chesley Sullenberger. Why would I? I have referred to his accident once or twice. That is all. "Rod has to accept a degree of resposibility for the crash". Yes, I accept full responsibilty for converting a potentially tragic accident potentially killing all 25 people onboard into a highly successful ditching with all lives saved. "taking off overweight". By law, aircraft must be re-weighed at regular intervals (3 yearly) and at that time had to be weighed twice to confirm accuracy. Unbeknown to me, when the aeroplane was last weighed in October 1992, it was weighed on Road and Traffic Authority (RTA) truck scales, not approved by the CAA. The aeroplane was weighed in the open, in the tail down position instead of the level flying position as required by the CAA. This process should have been conducted in a hangar. The aeroplane was weighed in a non-approved environment, in a non-standard position and on non-approved scales. The empty weight and centre of gravity for the aeroplane were unknown. It was certified by an authorised Weight Control Authority officer of the CAA. It is quite probable that this re-weigh was highly inaccurate. It is highly plausible that the basic weight of the aeroplane would have been in error, therefore the BASI calculated final MTOW would also be in error. They accused me of being an amount overweight to the exact kilogram. How can that be when there were so many dubious statements concerning the weight? Another interesting fact of this weighing in 1992 was that the resulting figures from both weight records were identical—8158 kg. Each of the three jack-point figures showed identical weight readings as well—what are the chances of this? I personally witnessed BASI weighing the passengers’ baggage while it was dripping wet, on a set of analogue bathroom scales on a hangar floor and then they ‘factored’ it. The fundamental mandate of an ICAO Annex 13 investigation and its subsequent reports is strictly to prevent future accidents and incidents. On 25th September 1996, (two years after my accident) the Dutch Dakota Association, lost their DC-3 (PH-DDA) which crashed into the Wadden Sea about 35 miles north of the Dutch capital, sadly killing all 32 people on board. The crew had reported engine problems five minutes after take-off from Texel Island on return to Amsterdam, 89 km away. They too shut down the left engine and its propeller also mechanically failed to feather correctly, flying at an altitude of around 500 ft they tried to position the aircraft for an emergency landing but lost control and crashed onto a flooded sandbank covered by just chest-deep water, around nine minutes after take-off. Sadly, 32 people died. Why? For those who want to know, the left engine failed after takeoff and the right engine was not producuing rated power. I proved in the simulator it was only producing about 70% of rated power. No wonder it was not going to stay in the air. "As you age, you either get bitter, or you get better." Well, I'm nowhere near as ANGRY as I was 32 years ago. BUT I will not let these pathetic public servant bureaucracy get away with their deceit. I will fight for the truth until the day I die. I'm more than happy to answer any questions, however, before you criticise me or my actions, I suggest you read my book. Thank you.

They're still up to it. When we were there this year I often saw scooters with 2 blokes, the back one holding on to a trailer loaded with bricks.

She wouldn't be happy about his spat with the Pope either. I don't think she ever mistook Trump for who he was, but she was willing to play the game. Not any more, it seems.

The love affair between Geogia Meloni and Trump appears to have fallen on rocky times - thanks to the scales apparently falling off Georgia's eyes. Once, once of Trumps greatest arse-lickers, she stopped at supporting him when it came to the Iran War. She stopped the U.S. from using Italian air bases to carry out attacks on Iran. Trump, speaking in a phone interview with Italian broadcaster La7, claimed that Meloni had “begged” to take a photograph with him. “She begged me to take a photo with her. She wanted a photo with me so badly. I might not even have done it, but I felt sorry for her,” Trump said. Referring to their interaction at the G7 summit, he added that Meloni was “probably happy that I spoke to her” and that he “was not obliged to speak to her.” Prior to the post-summit interviews, Trump's behavior at the G7 drew notable attention. Footage circulated online of Trump complaining about having "the lowest chair in the room," with cameras capturing Meloni's visible exasperation and eye-rolling reaction. It's good to see that Meloni has finally woken up to Trumps buffoonery and lies and outright fabricated BS at the highest levels. The Italian politicians are especially scathing of Trumps perfomance at the G7. Meloni has come back fighting, saying, "Neither I nor Italy ever beg!" She posted a video answering Trump’s statement, saying that "certain things deserve an immediate response". "Donald Trump’s statements are completely fabricated. I am frankly stunned," she said. "I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened." She went on, "I can only say that it's a pity he doesn't show the same determination with enemies of the West, with enemies of the United States, with leaders with whom, instead, he is far more accommodating". Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Italys top diplomat, called Trumps words "grave and offensive", and cancelled a scheduled trip to the United States, thus creating a political freeze. How you could place "diplomacy" and Trump in the one sentence has me beat, though. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio suggested Trump’s remarks besmirched the legacy of the US soldiers who died during World War II. “The thousands of crosses marking the graves of American soldiers who died to free us from Nazi-Fascist dictatorship did not deserve such a painful blow to our fraternal ties,” Nordio posted on X. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he did not believe Meloni would ever beg for a photo, "not even under threat". "Jokes of this kind do no good to anyone: neither to the USA, nor to Italy, nor to the alliance", he said. Trump has come back, complaining that Meloni "lacks courage", has failed to support NATO, and he's threatening to remove U.S. forces from Italian soil. It's amazing that this moron is now abusing Meloni for failing to support NATO, when Trump has done everything in his power to dismantle NATO.

Asia is eye-opening when it comes to vehicle misuse. As Army engineers working on road construction in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, we were constantly amazed at what the Vietnamese considered a normal load for any vehicle or motorcycle. The Lambro 3 wheelers ("Tuk-tuks", or "xe lam" as the Vietnamese called them) were universal transport, and they were used to regularly transport workers to and from the rice paddies. As we often had construction road works they would have to traverse, they would often have to unload passengers to get through the road works. One day, a Lambro full of rice paddy workers (all girls and women, I might add), unloaded its passengers so it could get past us at the road works. We counted THIRTY SEVEN women and girls getting out of that Lambro! Admittedly, the Vietnamese women and girls are only tiny, but even at that, thirty seven people in a Lambro would have to be some kind of record.

Yeah, that last one should go into the revised Oxford dictionary. Priceless word for present day polytiks

I miss working in this sort of country. It's the type of scenery where you almost expect Clint Eastwood to roll up with his poncho and mule. This was the last job I worked on out there. It was a small prospect for Innamincka Petroleum around the field they had north of Innamincka. The camera was a little Panasonic Lumix compact. It took reasonable photos and was around that time period when digital cameras were starting to produce reasonable quality images. I've still got the camera but rarely use it. If I want to take a non phone photo these days I use the old Canon 700D.

Marty, this was my favourite for leaning into corners back in the day, but it probably wouldn't hold up against the modern bikes these days. A bloke I knew back then had a Dominator SS and he let me take it for a ride one day. As far as handling goes, it ran rings around the Commando. The only issue with the SS was the annoying vibration coming through the seat right around the 60mph mark. The owner of it went on to own the world's fastest Velocette. He tried for 200 mph for a few years but the final record he set was just a bit short at 193 mph.

I wonder how many they would fit on them in Asia. I've seen a family of five on a small solo bike (like a 175cc) in places like Indonesia.

Have a good trip Pete, a good time of year to be heading out there. It's been over 14 years since I retired from working in the back country and haven't been there since. If I got my vehicle up to scratch I'd like to do another trip out there as I've never been there on a tourist basis, always working. From the east coast of S.E. Queensland it's bitumen all the way to Innamincka now. Last time I was out there the bitumen had extended from Jackson to past Ballera, but fell short of the border. It had been a good season with a good body of Mitchell grass as far as the eye could see. In that same batch of photos, I fund this one of an abandoned well name plate at that field where we worked for a short time. Top line is Willowie No.1, the well name - ie: first well in the Willowie field. Second line, the well owner, Innamincka Petroleum. Third line the drilling contractor - Oil Drilling and Exploration Rig 30. Fourth line, the date drilling commenced. Spud is short for spudded, the term for when the bit first bites into the ground. Fifth line, the date it was plugged and abandoned. Last line, the total depth reached.

He was their DC-6 Type specialist when I met him about 1967. OTA. Nev

I have given some thought to the effect of the USA withdrawing its military from foreign bases. I'm ignoring the military aspects of such a withdrawal. Ever since 1945 American military personnel have been in Germany. Remember the Elvis movie G.I.Blues ? Can you imagine the economic impact on communities around US bases if those military personnel suddenly were taken away? Those military personnel would have spent billions over the years, and would spend millions annually on food, entertainment, recreational activities (vertical and horizontal). Oh what a tangled web are military alliances!

A funny story... Whilst in the RAAF in the 70's, I did an interview for TAA and one of the questions was, "was I related to Arthur Lovell?" Very naively and innocently I answered, No! Wrong. I should have answered "Uncle Arthur, how the hell is he?" I never met him but aware of his fame for bringing Ansett's first B727 to Oz.

Hi Rod, thanks for your input, and much additional information. No, I haven't read your book, but I do sympathise with you, as I stated. I too, have had similar dealings with powerful people who destroyed my life and all my hard-won assets - they're called a Bank, and they are run by despicable people who are prepared to crush customers in favour of intransigent and ruthless bank decision-making. So I do understand how you feel about people with virtually unaccountable power, and little recourse against blatant injustice, unless you want to spend decades in the courts, and spending millions you haven't got. Yes, you have had dealings with me many years ago, via a historical truck forum. I sold you some large diameter studs to suit your Chamberlain tractor. I trust you're keeing well in your advanced years. I find it better as I age, not to dwell on past injustices that one can do little about. Hold your head up high, that you know in your own mind, that you have no regrets about what you did.

That was dad riding with a toddler on the tank, mum behind holding a baby and an older child hanging on behind her.

They're good for carrying groceries. And building arm muscles.

I've never understood sidecars. To me it destroys the whole purpose of a motorbike, which is to have fun leaning through corners.

As far as I know Queensland is the only state that has the option of either single or dual seat registration. About a month ago I spotted this Royal Enfield Bullet 500 and sidecar in the shopping centre carpark. I got talking to the owner and he was saying that as long as you have two seat rego on a bike, you can fit a sidecar any time you like without any engineering certification or inspections. You can build a sidecar yourself and fit it, the only transport department stipulations on sidecars are that it must have four attachment points and a park brake. We don't have annual vehicle inspections here, only on trucks so for other vehicles they only need a roadworthy certificate to transfer registration from one owner to another. The owner of this Royal Enfield is a retired pilot and has quite a few classics from what he told me. Norton Commandos and single thumpers. This one is his daily driver although he said he sticks to the secondary roads and doesn't go near the highway on it.

A malignant narcissist, 6 time bankrupt, insecure, compulsive liar & con man. Absolutely nothing to like there.

Don't take it so badly. Soon HE will drop out of the picture and a new face can earn that title. There is quite a queue of similar types waiting in the wings.

That's a good saying, and very true I recon.

No, and that's a big problem. People with mental illness, especially those whose illness has made them homeless usuyally have had very traumatic interactions with police whose lack of training in dealing with the minds of the mentally ill exacerbates bad interactions. The feeling of helplessness in the police to be able to reach a satisfactory solution to the problem presented by a mental illness situation is demoralising. Remember,too, that for the constables called out to a mental illness situation there are likely to be aware that at the same time calls are coming in for them to deal with all the other types of situations that normally occur durig a shift. There are never enough police on duty at a given time to deal with all the calls coming in. So while police are stuck in an A&E unit with a mentally ill person, some arsehole is beting his partner and some drunk has wrapped his car around a pole. Which job gets priority? As dramatist W. S. Gilbert's lyric in The Pirates of Penzance song "When a felon's not engaged in his employment" sung by the Sergeant and Chorus of Police, "A policeman's lot is not a happy one ..."