nomadpete

Alternative Energy and a islanded microgrid. Lord Howe Island put in a $12 million dollar solar + battery, 3 years ago. So far they saved 360,000 litres of imported diesel ($2.6 million). That makes it pay for itself in about 5 years. https://arena.gov.au/assets/2024/09/Lord-Howe-Island-Hybrid-Renewable-Project-Public-KS-Report.pdf

Quite agree, OME. With only one caveat..... We really need Australian ownership of raw material extraction AND the value adding processing.

Random Thought re: Australian manufacturing. This ABC article mentions a problem restarting manufacturing..... apart from trying to be competetive on price....there is a shortage of tradesmen with experience required for industry. They are literally a dying breed. I have long believed that our only hope is to initiate a group called Dinosaur Engineering. Gather up the remaining skilled old farts to work voluntarily to do the design, training and setup of each manufacturing project. There are many competent 'older' people languishing in a sea of retirement boredom, who would love to get their teeth into the challenge. Like Mens Sheds on steroids. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-28/tools-engineering-pattern-making-manufacturing-industry/105134026

My ungripe of the day..... I am sitting in Sydney domestic terminal awaiting a call to board a short Dash-8 to Lord Howe. A rare place of NO MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE.... AT ALL! I will enjoy a break from all the gloom & doom of constant news.

But will a thieving seagull ever refund a stolen chip?

Seems that little credit was ever given to the merchant marines. Yet they were serving in the same wars as 'servicemen'. And doing it on unarmed, slower vessels. My uncle served in merchant marine in both big wars as a radio operator. Never sunk but was attacked. I still have an old hand drawn map of a course in the Med, with notes of sightings of subs that were stalking them but torpedoes missing them.

For all those who have had chips stolen by seagulls...... You have been warned! (A sign at cafe in Hyde Park Sydney)

Aha! So the USofA has proved it can reverse the T rump isolationist policy! (Way back when it got threatened by a world war)

Posted our votes in yesterday. I made sure of my preferences by voting Under The Line - as I have strong political opinions.

A.I. = Assorted Intelligence. Have we created an automated version of Average (Human) Intelligence?

That isn't a problem if you get your GP to issue an Escript. This comes to your phone. It is also sent to a gov website that the pharmacist can access (with your permission). The paper system is planned to be phased out in coming years.

Is it my imagination or has t rump gone quiet? His constant crowing seems a bit muted lately. A muted trumpet

Sorry Nev, nothing personal. I confess that there are (regional) parts that I do enjoy. But I moved to Tassie to get away from urban sprawl and congested roads. Such as our big east coast cities have all developed.

Thankefor the update, Litey. I was wondering how poor old Zorro was getting on after you displaced him to redo the decking.

Sorry, I am biased. To me Vic is just something I drive through on my way to proper Mainland Australia.

The great thing about 3hrs out of Melbourne, is that gets you out of Victoria!

Well Jerry, I don't think you'll get tucker like that if you come back and live in a big city.

It's all greek to me.

Strong roots.... doesn'tmake it good.... like the weeds in my garden.

Which raises a random thought (sorry folks)..... What is synthetic oil made from? How do they sysnthesise that ancient black sludgy stuff that used to come from deep subterranean cavities? Is it a more environmentally nice process?

Oils sure aint oils, Ollie!

I like that thought. You can't buy a better seat in heaven. "Y' come into this world with nothing, y' go out with nothing.... whattya lost? Nothing!" (Life of Brian?)

That is unlikely to go very far. DJT pretty much has a friendly DOJ & supreme court.

He didn't ask A.I. how this car would look if it was made in USA without materials that trump has tariffed out of availability.

Of course. I was only jesting. I am surprised that car makers (well, piston engined cars) persist in having a coolant temperature gauge, when with modern technology it should be a simple matter to monitor oil temp. As well as actual oil pressure.