nomadpete

I topped up my heating today..... The sun came out, so my heat pump runs for..... Free! 🙂

My objection to the two party system, is that it excludes independants from the decision making (unless it is a hung patliament, where they hold the deciding vote). Also, the electorate is forced to choose the least worst collection of herded cats. In every election there have been good individuals within each party. But I have to give power to the undesirable individuals in the party equally to all the party members. I want to pick the people who will hold the power. Not a party which inevitably will have some agendas I (and the party members) like, and others I don't like.

And so am I. Gasp!

The background gossip says that Trumpy has long wanted USA to take over Karg Island. He first mentioned this many years ago. So far that oil loading island has not been touched by USA or Israel. Control of that island would control most of china's imported oil supply. And incidentally might be worth billions of $.

Trumpy said "Let's see how long he lasts".

Just ban all partys. Bring back democracy. Present a bill, debate it, then put it to a vote. Job done. No need for closed door party squabbles. Just each member voting according to their conscience. That will stop the present policy of the incumbent party claiming a mandate to do anything they like, and stop the opposition party automatically opposing everything the incumbents want.

Gina can.

Globally, the old energy oligarcs are flooding the zone with misinformation and graft to protect their wealth. Quote from The Guardian:- "Australian governments subsidising fossil fuel use by more than $30,000 a minute, analysis finds Australia Institute data finds state and federal subsidies for coal, gas and oil products increased 10% in past year, growing at a faster pace." https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/11/australian-governments-subsidising-fossil-fuel-use-by-more-than-30000-a-minute-analysis-finds Yes, there are also subsidies at present for non fossil energy. But in the face of the fossil fuel subsidies, it is the only way to compete.

I think it's time to separate the climate debate from the energy issue. Not to diminish the climate crisis in any way, although the vested interests have been opposing both. Our national food security relies massively on diesel. Since we have little reserve we are vulnerable to foreign sources for our food. Our industry and economy relies massively on the cost of energy. For the first time, thanks to the development of affordable energy alternatives, we are now availing ourselves of energy and transport that is not reliant on international supply. All this cannot happen overnight, & is still unfolding, but I reckon our future looks great.

Interesting comparison of Patriot missiles used. They burned up 800 in 3 days on Iran. But only supplied Ukraine 600 of them over the past 4 years. No idea what stocks the U.S. have, nor their manufacturing capability. Muy more shares in U.S. arms industry!

You know you are getting old when your kids start talking about choosing an old folk's home..... for themselves.

What trumpy did now? Displayed his high standards of staff selection. President Donald Trump quietly appointed Erika Kirk to the Air Force Academy board, prompting swift outrage and mockery from both sides of the political aisle.

Back to the latest Middle East conflict.... Sorry to post a meme but I couldn't resist. I once thought Dubya was the worst, but not any more. Being a sociopath means never having to say 'sorry'.

There is one thing I like about Bahai religion. They don't mind quoting any of the various religious texts. So they seem to try to filter out the warlike bits and use the more moral parts of other religions. I attended a service once, they seemed a nice peaceful mob, but religion doesn't appeal to me. A bit like Esperanto, treading a middle ground gets everyone offside - as each religious mob try to exclude all the other ones because 'they aren't 100% MY true religion'. Also, they read a quote from the bible, and another from the koran or whatever, which risks making people think about things too much. Can't allow that in a successful religion, can we?

I understand and agree with your view that Lib/Nat coalition is in poor shape, but in our political environment, they are still considered 'major'. Even though they only represent a minor threat at present. I hope you aren't suggesting the examples I gave, are in some way making the poor better off?

One party is the shyte party, and the other is the shyte lite party. Just because one is a bit less dodgy than the other, doesn't make sun shine from it's orifice.

Yes, Nev. And labor signed off the obscene Woodside gas deal, and also passed special laws to enable the foreign owned salmon fish farms to have special pollution exemptions. So I say, 'both major parties.'

That's a certainty. However i cannot give him credit for single handedly destroying a global civilisation. Civilisation (not always civil) will stumble on regardless. The tangerine toddler has simply acted out all the hidden failings of the world order. Failings that were previously dormant, or simply hidden, and until he came along, weaknesses were slowly eroding the moral fibre of world order. For instance, governments of most countries have always suffered from CEO type rot. The job description calls for a ruthless, results driven psychopath, usually overpaid. It doesn't call for a considerate egalitarian, fairminded person. The USA has a history of overt selfishness. Their glorification of capitalism overrides the welfare of the populace. Politics and War is all about making money. It's just that tRump makes it so obvious. As with our Australian system, both major parties are plainly in the pockets of the megarich. That is certainly not ethical.

Further to the Trump - Epstein saga: Thanks to the corrupt DOJ and their redactions, along with other high level supression of proper investigation, we are not likely to see the whole picture. This vid seems to summarise a fair bit: It seems a lot of very powerful folk are still keen to sweep it under the carpet.

Thanks, but my point remains.... why on earth woild we want or need to ship ANY beef from USA to Australia? Like importing ice to Eskimos.

I see that USA imports billions of $ worth of Australian beef, annually. Now I see that USA has exported $700,000,000 worth of beef to Australia. https://www.beefcentral.com/news/us-beef-officially-re-enters-australia-after-23-year-absence/ Can anyone explain how this makes sense? Are we exporting so much beef that we left our local market short? We do that with our gas exporting. Doesn't all this shipping back and forth push up the price to the public?

On another Middle East note, as if the wars there aren,'t already dirty enough, it looks like a big escalation has started. For the first time, a desalination plant has been struck. The implications for civillians are immense. % Potable water from desal plants: Iran: 3% UAE: 43% Saudi: 70% Kuwait: 90% Israel: 70% Oman: 86% Of this starts a tit-for-tat response, a lot of civilians might get thirsty and desperate very quickly.

Oh the irony. Iran makes Shahed drones. They sell them to Russia to use against Ukrainians. Of course they are using them now at home. USA has been wasting very expensive missiles to destroy Shaheds. (Patriot missiles?) To the point that USA is depleting their missile stocks. Now Ukraine are sending their own designed and Ukr made Sting interceptor drones designed especially for Shahed drones to help the US out! Cost? About $3500 each.

It's a bit mind bending to view the track from Aukland to Dubai. It flies via southern Tassie. I guess the great circle route is a straight line, but Mercator's projection makes the track appear ridiculously curved.