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Stopped in Huonville after an excellent ride around the Channel - Margate through to Cygnet. Barely any traffic and a gorgeous afternoon. Coming over a rise after Gordon, there's nothing but water in front with a fishing boat coming in and the Hartz mountains in the background - absolutely stunning.

Yesterday I had a calibration appointment for my Cochlear implant. It started with the audiologist connecting the device to her computer and playing a range of beeps at various frequencies, starting too low to hear, and increasing them until they were at a comfortable volume. She then read out a number of words from a printed list of about 30, with her face obscured, and I had to locate the word on the list and repeat it without being able to lip-read. Passed that without problem. Next, she placed a page of 12 half sentences in front of me. Again, obscuring her face, she read out the full sentence which I had to repeat back to her. The example I recall was: Printed: She cleaned the floor.... The spoken sentence: She cleaned the floor with a mop and broom. I passed all 12 sentences at the first attempt. She said she normally doesn't get to pulling that page out until the second month. I've had the device for 9 days. I can now hold conversations, watch the TV, and talk on the phone without the hearing aid in the other ear.

Trump's limo driver got arrested for possession of drugs. They found over 230 pounds of dope in the back seat.

It's been reported that the Starlink speed decrease was ordered by the White house. So that, along with the purchase of diesel from Russia in contravention of their own sanctions, means that Trump is an active accessory in the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia. I'd love to see the kompromat that Putin holds on Trump. Given that Trump visited Moscow with the Miss Universe or some similar competition, it's not hard to guess, especially as Russia are known to install cameras and bugs in hotel rooms.

Not sure it's what trumpy did, or Elon, or Kegbreath. But in Ukraine, starlink recently suddenly stopped working for any receiver travelling faster than 100mph. It is used for anti missile/drone intercepts. The Ukranians sent a Starlink device travelling at speed from Ukraine, into Europe and back. The starlink worked perfectly once it crossed out of Ukraine. It stopped as soon as it came back. Military Starlink is controlled by USA. So USA is actively preventing Ukraine from defending its own territory. Also, investigating a fallen Russian Geran drone has found US semiconductors in its computer pcb. USA is now working for Putin.

Another scam by the man.

So its trully terrible then.

I call a big fat bullshit to almost everthing Musk says and does. I dont see his flying car as anything but hyper marketing that will be nothing like the car that is on sale. The acceleration is technically possible but highly suspect. Some hyper electric cars can do a sub 2 sec claimed to 100, the worlds fastest is 1 sec and thats a special electric hyper go cart of small size and massive short term power. Its drivers report a very scary drive and G block would be a thing if not for the very short drive time. This is more that F1 acceleration. Anything under 3 secs is extreme acceleration and requires great skill to safely use and the right conditions. My BMW bike is capable of 2.6 sec to 100kmh and that feels extreme and keeps rocketing once you get past that. 80kmh overtaking can easily be 160 if passing a truck in mere seconds, any car capable of that type acceleration would be deadly in most hands. We absolutely do not need more cars like Musk is pushing. On to the flying claims- absolute bullshit. The "car" that had rockets and apparently suction fans seems fake. Yes, the fans are possible as they are proven on the Mcmurty Sperling, but thats a track dedicated single seater and relies on pressure gradient to suck it to a surface. It has no rockets, and as soon a ground\surface contact is lost, so is the suction. I would think the flying one is a 200-300kg dummy made of carbon with thrusters and fans or even a electromagnet on the track it climbs and clings to. It falls and moves to smoothly in the video to be realistic. Or a hidden arm not seen on camera, I am sure his AI could hide the arm. I think its just a big bullshit campaign to push share prices and way overpromise as per normal. I await years of promises, lost money and then followed by claims that the FAA banned it because it could "really Fly".

That's your intelligent opinion. Are we dealing with an intelligent electorate?

Don't be too sure of a Democrat landslide in the mid-terms. The idea of that happening is based partly in polling. Over the last three Presidential elections the polling has been way off compared to its accuracy before about 2008. There is a number of factors causing that. This video describes some of those factors. This video discusses the topic. The presentation is unbiased.

Yes. The person is a paraplegic, having been shot through the spine during the incident. Wouldn't look good shooting a cripple. Shades of the SS. Not the usual image of the condemned man backed up against a wall, being offered a last cigarette and a blindfold.

If you think that the things will change on 4th November if the Dems gain a majority in either House, you are wrong. The winners of local elections will not take up their seats until 3rd January 2027. Between November and February, each State has to confirm and certify the winners of each seat within it. This can takes weeks and you can be sure that both Parties will be calling for recounts in close seats. How close? How long is a piece of string in the case of teh Republicans. After each State has confirmed the results in its seats, a certificate is sent to the Clerk of the House. Then in January, all those who have been elected congregate in the House they have been elected to and the Clerk Clerk calls the roll, giving a seat to the person called. That's why that ruckus happened on the 6th January 2021. It could happen again. Here's a video that give a description of what Trump and his cohorts could do if the Republicans cop a beating.

The Dems don't seem to promote any meaningful platform. The most they are offering is 'Vote for us to make things like they used to be'. Are they forgetting that the Trump led Republican administration got elected because the public don't want the previous style of corruption and warmongering? Sure it isn't draining the swamp. But will a Dem win be enough to bring about a shift away from billionaire controlled government?

I think the Republicans realise they will lose the House, but Trump will do everything he can to hold onto the Senate. If the Democrats win the Senate as well, they will be in a much stronger position to make his life miserable. My concern is that the Democrats are so focused on campaigning against Trump that they haven't figured out what they're actually for and what they would do to turn the ship around, so nothing much will get done for the next two years.

Here is a Google AI search of car age on Australias roads Fleet Age Breakdown National Fleet Average: 11.54 years Passenger Vehicles Average: Roughly 11.2 to 11.4 years Oldest State/Territory Fleet: Tasmania (average age of 13.5 years) Youngest State/Territory Fleet: Australian Capital Territory (average age of 10.4 years) [1, 2] Fleet Composition & Stats Total Registered Vehicles: Over 22.3 million motor vehicles across Australia New Vehicle Turnover: About 25% of vehicles are under 5 years old, while around 27% are older than 10 years. No Road Salting Effect: Because Australia does not salt its roads in winter, vehicles suffer far less rust damage, allowing older cars to stay functional and look newer longer on Reddit. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Cynic! Yes there are lots of similar crazies out there. And the fact that such examples are so easy to find, means that there are also statistically significant multitudes of slightly less laughable examples as well. Still indicates all is lost. I will match your cynicism and dig a pit of utter distain beneath it.

The problem really is that it is a hybrid, designed to appeal to those with a fear of full electric and rusted on range anxiety. A hybrid is the worst of both worlds. The battery is small so the electric range is woeful. The ICE engine is also small so needs to work hard to replace the energy drain from the battery. Charging a battery from an ICE engine is very inefficient. It has all the disadvantages of every ICE engined vehicle of consuming fossil fuel including maintenance and complexity. How this bloke with the Shark got 24 litres/100k crossing the great dividing range which is essentially up hill overall and 44 on the flat doesn't add up. Was he driving in to a 50-80kmh headwind on the flat with a big flat fronted 3 tonne caravan? You cannot regenerate anywhere near the energy going downhill lost going uphill to the top. Only a long sustained down hill run will increase the energy level of the battery.

True, But he is dragging the Tasmania govt into huge debt and letting corporate mates get free reign over public assets. So the whole country will pay via federal bailouts for things like the aluminium smelter and all sorts of dodgy shit. Bet they ask for a bigger GST slice plus more health and education funding to cover their arse. A blind dog could manage a economy better.

My Prado diesel tows my van at 15-16 l/100km.

I can remember it was fairly common for old blokes to live permanently at a pub in one of the rooms. Often WW1 vets. When I was growing up we had one old fella living permanently in our local pub. He had the nickname Woody as he used to chop the pub's firewood and do odd jobs for his board and lodging. He didn't drink, just lived at the pub. Woody was a lovely old bloke, a real gentleman. I got to know him quite well as he used to come out to the farm and stay and look after us if my dad had to go away for a couple of days. In those days the adults would go to the pub and take all the kids with them. Us kids would play around in the pub's backyard and climb the big tree there and at some stage we'd always end up going to see Woody in his room and have a yarn with him. After I'd moved away as a late teenager/early adult, whenever I was back visiting my dad I'd often drop in and see old Woody at the pub. Eventually he got so old and frail he ended up in a home.

Trump is a Traitor who cannot be trusted by anybody. Putin Helped him get elected. Enemy Interference in USA Presidential Elections but that's OK somehow?.Nev

I don't DO farcebook either..Nev

Oh, I thought that if she wasn't dimwitted, the only alternative would be dim ethically. As Nev pointed out, donold primarily selects minions based on blind loyalty. And maybe lip size. Is that a metaphor for blind lip service?

Sure. That one aspect raises another energy requirement of non ground vehicles. Land vehicles can stop without expending energy. Air vehicles require extra energy to stop or turn. So apart from a very great amount of energy to levitate, even more energy is needed to stop and to turn. Historically, this energy requirement has hampered every previous attempt at flying (even our aeroplanes). Has Mr musk found a new great lightweight energy source? If not, the magical levitating car is just a PR exercise, probably aimed at raising money.

Got your attention though hasn't it? Nev

The latest Fox News poll shows that corruption is an even bigger concern for voters than the economy at 88% disapproval. That's pretty extraordinary, especially for Fox. Trump has replaced the Washington political swamp with the New York real estate swamp.

Guess she didn't make it to the second episode of The Apprentice.

I have ridden in a few evs the last 2 weeks in the US. Uber rides, mustang mach e was nice . Kia evs good , didn't think much of the tesla 3 but liked the Tesla model s. All the drivers said they saved them a fortune compared to ice. But on hot days there range is cut right back running the aircon . My cousin in Phoenix bought a new all electric Audi last year but got rid of it due to range issues. I also got a ride in a hybrid camry, the driver preferred it because he doesn't have to lose time charging during the day and it returns around 55 mpg. And waymo driverless taxis are everywhere now, cousin's husband said they have 10,000 of them and more on the way.

I reckon they would have gone cross-eyed trying to design them. A simple construction requiring a complicated cam shape. This is the parts manual drawing; it seems to exaggerate the shape a bit.

My goodness! The wear must be crazy. Side thrusts everywhere!

I'm still saving up for a EV. But I put a self imposed deadline on myself. Only put 6 months rego on the old faithful Mitzi Outlander. With 350,000k on the clock she is getting a bit tired. At last oil change I gave her some 15w 50 oil which quietened the engine rattle down a lot.

Apparently Now, Most Food companies are also Chemical companies. More Adulteration in everything. Depleted soil produces crook Vegetables and vegetable varieties are down 90% from what they were 80 years ago. Processed Food can Be hardly food at all. SALT FAT and SUGAR makes up a lot of it.. Nev

Interesting figures which few Down-Southers would realise. Re the Constitution Sections 121 and 124. Both have big hurdle words - 'may' and 'consent'. It takes a lot to get over them, especially when Sect 124 means that Lower Queensland would lose a motza in royalties etc.

Regarding Katter's idea. How would the government for a State in that area firstly establish the structures necessary to run things like health, education, law? Secondly, how would it obtain the money to do these things? It is idealistic, but not practical to create a new State in an area that does not have the population to carry out teh necessary functions of government. I think that's why Western Australia shelved the idea. Besides, I don't think it would be permissable under the Constitution.

It was 130/145 Avgas in most radial engines. You can't even get that Now. I started flying in 1959 and fuel was never cheap as far as I was concerned. Anyone who had a Big round motor up front Must have been rich in my view. I certainly wasn't. All of my Weekly income gave me an hour and a Half in the Air. when I started in a Chipmunk.. Nev

I don't tow caravans, nor have a big ute, but I suspect that an acceptable fuel consumption for an ICE towing a typical caravan would be in the range of 13 to 18 litres per 100 km. That's why the figure in the 40s was such a shock. I really don't think that these massive EVs are suitable for towing much more than a tradies' trailer. I don't mean to be nasty about them, but it's always horses for courses when selecting a tool to do a job.

Definitely a good memory. I remember him on Pick-a-Box correcting Bob Dyer when Bob said his answer was wrong.

She's grown older. Now she's a Ms.

Riding in hail is never fun. Like been assualted by an angry dwarf with a little ball peen hammer. Makes snow and black ice seem like fun-almost.

With Many Years of flying into Cairns I can honestly say I've never encountered RAIN as Heavy in any other Place. You just marvel at How a Plane can even fly in it. And there's that Great Hill just to the west. Everything goes Mouldy. Gekko's on the roof upside down. The only place to be is in an airconditioned Bar. Humidity is 100%. Shorts worn half way down the Backside is De Riguere(sp). Nev

You didn't. I was acknowledging that such projects are like other art forms - it's not done for profit.

Abbah? Yeah they were gods.

How times have changed. I found this old photo taken of the welcome to Cairns sign on a road trip in 1976. Population 33,000, it's around 180,000 now. Cairns was a nice place in 1976 with a lot of character. I was also there in 1983 and it was much the same. The next time was 1998 and it was unrecognisable.

Jim Chalmers must be feeling its effects today. The "abolition" of credit card surcharges to make the coffee cheaper according to Albo resulted in the ATO scrapping taking credit card payments for tax. I am not sure, but I thought the treasurer would have been consulted before the ATO decided to scrap the ability to pay with a credit card, especially if so many small businesses rely on it - which is in itself a worrying sign. I am trying to work out if this is really unintended consequences or just incompetence. Here is my conspiracy theory. When a consumer is presented a bill at the counter, and they will be slugged a fee for using the credit card, unless they are broke or tempo short of cash on their debit card (assuming they are not going to cop a bigger charge on their debit card use), then they are likely not to use that credit card. That causes a bit of a headache to the credit card companies as that is less lending they are dolling out and less transaction surcharges they are making. So, maybe lobbying the government (and i have no evidence of this), they managed to persuade the government that not allowing credit card surcharges was in the consumer interest. Or maybe consumer groups took the kool-aid and suggested the same to the government - with good intentions. What people forget is that, especially for small businesses - these charges can be 3% + a minimum transaction fee. For small items like a coffee, that can be a bit of change per transaction for the flat fee. But, if a business can't charge a surcharge, they are left with two options: 1. absorb it because all small business owners are greedy bar stewards and want to fleece the public, right? Or two, just pass it on in increased prices - to everyone. But, that way, if you're tempted to use your credit card and avail yourself of the, is it 55 days interest free period, you will do it. The credit card companies still get some money and you're none the wiser. So, Albo spruiking the coffee being cheaper is not quite true and there were stories of before and after prices of the surcharge ban coming in was a biot of an own goal depending on where you purchased your coffee (and other things). Now, the ATO issue. I get that little issue of credit card surcharges on the tax payment may have slipped Chalmer's mind. I mean I am not sure he has had the experience of running a small business and the cash flow issues that come with that. I am not even sure he would have bothered to consult the ATO on the move because the ATO is about tax, and not credit card payments. But, surely, the ATO would have consulted Chalmers before making a unilateral decision to withdraw accepting credit cards if so many small businesses make their payments with credit cards. After all, the ATO just can't raise its prices. In which case, maybe Chalmers forgot to ask how many make the payments and how much is paid using credit cards. I would guess that the ATO would have presented it as, "Gee, boss. If we can't make credit card payment surcharges and unilaterally increase the corporate tax rate, GST, or whatever taxes are paid this way, then we will lose $xbn to the credit card companies." And everyone got fixated on the cost and not the impact. So rather than ask why that would be the case and what would be the impact of going ahead or not introducing a carve out for ATO payments (apart from that being political suicide), the ATO just went ahead - after all - they are a bit of a law unto themselves. Well, it has come to bite the government on the bum. In the scheme of things, not in a huge way, and it will all blow over - The problem is that the decision to allow credit card payments to be taken by the ATO will only be for a year. What then? But, this is an example in poor thinking. The idea that the surcharge would be a boon for consumers is a joke. Ye, only 17& of cafes in this case have unilaterally increased their prices - you can bet others will follow suit. Also, you don't, as a consumer get to take advantage of a lower price by not using cheaper forms of payment. How is that a boon for consumers? Yes, you coul argue it punishes those who are skint at the time.. Er.. if you;re skint, shouldn't you be paring back a bit anyway - using a credit card will just make you skinter. And you have just cut off an important cash flow management capability for small businesses. Well done. I used to have a small software reseller in Aus.. I can't recall if it was Westpac or Anz that provided the merchant facilities to take credit cards, but I recall in the contract, I couldn't apply surcharges (well it was worded I couldn't offer discounts to those not using a credit card that wasn't available to those who used credit cards, if I recall correctly). The transaction costs sometimes made a sale unprofitable when competing with the big fellas. I managed to eek out a living from it, but jeepers it was tough. And that was offering support to try and bring in some margin against the big fellas. Almost every consumer is cost conscious - one learns that very quickly despite what the text books say. I put these sorts of government decisions more to incompetence than to unintended consequences - but the latter is usually the result of the former.

He's just blasted Norway in a speech because they didn't give him the Nobel Peace Prize. He said he deserved it for stopping eight wars plus two more which he says he will wrap up very soon, including the one he started although he didn't mention that. What a loser. It's hard to believe that this moron is the US president. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgj921e14jdo

I distract them by throwing in a packet of condoms.

How do you get rid of unwanted pubic hair? I find a toothpick does the trick.

Sounds a bit of a re-run of Hewson and the birthday cake.

Donald the Dick Tator just checking his equipment. He had a damaging leak from his administration.

I think you will find the best paid CEO rarely pays much tax at all.