onetrack

That looks more like a description of the climate in Victoria, rather than Australia overall.

Penny Wong had better have some good experience in how to deal with a petulant 3 yr old, with a 20 second attention span - because that's precisely what Trump would be like to deal with. And if she plays golf with him, she has to allow him to win. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/2023/02/03/trump-and-golf-fancy-resorts-a-list-partners-cheating-at-highest-level/69857594007/

Peter, I trust you realise that no-one will lend you money on a personal basis, once you're over retirement age. They'll lend it to your company structure, but only with asset security. You wouldn't even get a new credit card now, at your age. If you do have a credit card, the easiest way to source some funds is apply for a credit card limit increase. A reverse mortgage is a possibility, but watch the application fees and other hidden charges, such as steep monthly account fees. But even if you have a credit card, I'm not sure that they'd increase your limit by another $3500, if you do still happen to have a card. Most credit cards are about 14%, but be aware that cash advances on a credit card can incur interest rates of 20-25% - plus a cash advance fee of around 3%. I kept my credit card with Community First Bank (formerly CFCU) and I have a $10,000 limit, and the interest rate is only 8.99%. Best of all, I can get a cash advance anytime, at no cost, and the interest rate on any cash advance is still only 8.99%. That's the advantage of doing business with customer-owned banks or credit societies. EDIT - I was just discussing this with SWMBO and she brought up the fact you can get a free loan from Centrelink, provided you meet the necessary criteria. You can borrow up to $2000 from Centrelink for essential goods and services. These include household appliances, car expenses, beds, computers, and home repairs. The loan has to be repaid over 24 mths. https://womeninstem.org.au/free-centrelink-loans-for-pensioners/

Day One of the new Trump Presidency will be the same as every other day of a Trump Presidency - utter chaos, lots of social media posts about how great he is, lots of abuse and vicious invective for his stated "enemies".

The only magnets I've ever owned, only picked up steel and lost parts! A chick magnet is a personality substitute.

Clinton - Nope, the servicing period for the Statesman was every 15,000kms. Maybe you read the ad as only needing 2 services in 2 years and 50,000kms. But 2 years servicing or 50,000kms servicing, is at least 3 services.

How's your rebuilt knee going, Nev? Brother (84) had his rebuilt middle of last year, I was amazed how quickly he recovered from it. Knee surgery has come a long way since SWMBO had both hers done in 2008.

Christopher Lee?

A pretty hedonistic bloke was killed, and ended up in Hell, welcomed by Satan. "Well, now you're here, I'll give you a tour around", said Satan, and he took him to a dimly-lit entrance door, with a soft red light illuminating everything beyond. In the low light, the bloke could see a place that looked like a cosy nightclub, with a table, a bottle of wine on the table, two glasses, and a gorgeous blonde sitting at the table. "That's your deserved place, over there, at that table, seated opposite the blonde", said Satan. "Really!!", the bloke exclaimed. "This sure doesn't look like Hell to me!! In fact, it looks like Heaven!!" "Oh, it's Hell alright!", growled Satan. "The bottle has a hole in it, and the blonde hasn't!!"

What is "cancer lite"??? Doesn't sound like a very medical term to me, and I was under the impression there was only cancer, the disease, no divisions into various grades of the disease. Yes, chemo is not ideal, and often has many side effects. The bottom line is the medical fraternity is continually improving the chemo drugs and reducing the side effects. We've had radiation treatment for a long time and initially, it was terrible, it killed as many people as it saved - now, it's targeted and selective, and very effective. My brother (84) has just had radiation treatment after prostate surgery (to remove a tumour) and he's had a poor opinion of doctors and medical treatments for decades. However, he's changed his tune now, reckons the treatment he's been getting is fabulous, and he's recovered 100%, and feeling great. He still does everything he wants to do without problems, goes on holidays in his Landcruiser and caravan, and is enjoying life. He was that wrapped in his cancer treatment, that he went and had his right knee reconstructed as well! After 7 weeks, he reckons he's never walked so good in the last 25 years, as he does now.

A lot of seeds are poisonous, too. I'd be very careful about handing out uncontrolled medicine advice. I've got to 3/4 of a century, disease-free, without any need or desire, to crunch up and eat seeds of fruits. Where's the peer-approved medicinal trial results that prove fruit seeds contain cancer-killing chemicals and are highly recommended to include in a healthy diet?

Make no mistake about it, MAGA is a CULT, and Donald Trump is the Jim Jones of the 21st century. Trumps desire and entire lifes aim, is to be WORSHIPPED as a GOD - not just a "God-like figure", but as a real God, who brooks no interference with his plans or aims, to rule with dictator strength, and to ignore laws designed around fairness, and to punish illegal acts. Trump is the most DIVISIVE leader the Western world has seen in the last 100 years. He wants Americans divided into two distinct camps - US (MAGA supporters) and THEM (Democrats, Lefties, Woke people, illegal immigrants, Blacks, anyone with different sexual or gender desires. Trumps record as a landlord is ill-treatment of black tenants, constantly rejecting them in favour of white tenants). Jim Jones did exactly the same thing, he told his followers to reject out of hand, those who didn't join his cult. Jones would set all the rules, belief structures and laws - just as Donald Trump wants to do. Trump wants all MAGA supporters to be promoted over and above any other group or party, and for them to be above the law. He wants to twist the current Justice system to suit his own plans and desires - which involves ignoring any criminal acts done by Donald Trump or MAGA followers, and criminalising any act that tries to apply the law to Trump and his supporters, when they have done wrong. All Trumps appointees to major and crucial positions are based on two criteria, and nothing else. 1. Loyalty to Donald Trump - and 2. The appointees ability to defend Trump and even die for him, regardless of any truth or facts presented to the contrary. 2025 will go down as the year where truth, facts, the rule of law and democracy faltered, and was repressed at every turn. Trump wants to turn his vision of America into his own Jonestown, where all under him are acolytes who dare not question his utterings. Donald Trump makes unbelievable promises, and breaks them with breathtaking speed. He promised to be faithful to three wives and those promises meant nothing to him. He's found you can get people to do what you want, whenever you make great promises. The ability to carry through on those promises means nothing to him, once he's achieved his aim of getting support from those he promised great things. I would not be in the least surprised to see Trump descend into paranoia, and even more erratic and dangerous behaviour, as he ages, exactly as Jim Jones did. The veneer of civilisation and democracy has never been so thin in America, as it is now. https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=34297 https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/us/politics/donald-trump-housing-race.html

I think one of the greatest determinants of the quality of a U.S. President (and primary "leader of the free world") is how often they make excellent speeches, encouraging the nation, and outlining their vision for America in the future. Trump has never given a Presidential speech that contains any value, insight, lofty projections, or encouragement. Compare Trumps speeches with past Presidents such as Truman, Eisenhower, Roosevelt - or even Kennedy ("Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country") and you'll find very little of take-home value in Trumps utterings. But you'll find plenty of self-aggrandisement in his speeches. But Trump is a master of invective, verbal abuse, arrogant statements (always about himself) - and vicious threats of retribution, to anyone who opposes him. He refuses to admit to any wrongdoing at any time in his career - yet he was judged as being complicit in the Jan 6 insurrection - and even a number of Republicans voted to impeach him. He surrounds himself with lackeys chosen for their loyalty to him, and nothing else. His first Presidency was described as "chaotic" by insiders close to him. He is easily manipulated by pandering to his massive ego. He curries the votes of Fundamentalist Christians, and then says, "MY beautiful Christians"!? Christians do not worship other human beings, they worship Jesus Christ - yet Trump wants the U.S. Christians to worship HIM, instead of Jesus Christ. His constant lying and manipulation of facts to make himself appear superior are legend. He makes promises, and breaks them as fast as he makes them. He's a convicted felon, remember he was found guilty of paying off a prostitute he utilised, for her to keep quiet, as any information she would have revealed about Trump prior to his 2016 election would have seriously dented his election chances. That's simple election interference.. He's dissed every single opponent with derogatory descriptions, disgusting nicknames, racially-abusive names, and simple outright vicious personal abuse. He refused to accept the 2020 election results and effectively orchestrated a band of lying followers to produce falsified or non-existence evidence of election fraud, claiming the entire election was fraudulent. Not a single shred of "election fraud" claims ever stood up in any court case that Trump launched - and he launched over 60 cases, claiming election fraud. His best mate, lawyer Rudy Giuliani, was found guilty of producing false claims of election fraud against two women who counted votes, and they were awarded US$148M in damages - because EVERYTHING that came out of Giuliani's mouth is a LIE. And Trump surrounds himself with these people! The U.S. President is expected to ensure that he does not make personal profits from being President. Trump has ignored this law and has CONTINUALLY enriched himself, by using his Presidential position. Foreign dignitaries are always accommodated at Trump Hotels and other properties such as Mar-a-lago. Trump bills the foreign nations huge amounts for these stays. At last count, it was reported that Trump had enriched himself to the tune of US$160M by using his Presidential position. His story of valuable achievements while he has been President, you could write on a single pocket notebook page. Trump constantly brays about "Make America Great Again", but that saying is a hollow election ploy - he never made America "Great" last time he was President, and I can assure you, he won't make it "Great" again this time around, either. But one thing I can tell you that WILL happen, and that's the robber barons of America will become much more wealthy again under this Presidency, as he funnels Presidential favours and Govt money to them, in huge amounts.

Clinton takes home the (virtual) meat tray, Bob Dylan it is! 👍

Actually, the story that Cass Elliot choked on a sandwich was a fabrication. She died from a heart attack. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot

You have to remember that Hunter Biden has endured more than his fair share of trauma, injury, maternal loss, and constantly being pursued for news stories. He has suffered with addiction all his life and I would think the car crash in which his mother was killed, and Hunter suffered a fractured skull with traumatic brain injury, has had a lot to do with his problems all through his life.

Name the ancient rock star of the 1960's and 1970's. He's still playing at 83.

Trainspotter.

Spaghetti Western.

Two mates return to one blokes apartment after a long night of drinking and partying. The guest notices a giant gong on his hosts living room wall, and inquires about it. "Oh, that's my talking clock", answers his host. "A talking clock??, his mate replies. "Doesn't look anything like a clock to me, let alone a talking one?" "You don't believe me? Look, I'll show you!", his mate replies. He walks over to the gong, picks up a big lump of wood, swings it, and hits the gong with all his might. "BOOOOOONNNNNNG!!!!!" rings throughout the building. Immediately, from the apartment next door, a voice screams out, "For f***'s sake!!! - it's 2:45 in the morning!!"

The eagle has flown.

Taking the wind out of his sails.

Throw your weight around.

It's Michelle Philips from The Mamas and Papas rock group. Not looking too bad for someone who's 80 this year, and who has probably ingested a truck load of drugs. Cass Elliot didn't get past 32.

Alan Green, the founder of the Quiksilver surfing clothing and equipment brand, has passed away at age 77 after a brief battle with cancer. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-16/surf-brand-quiksilver-alan-green-dies/104824096