Jerry_Atrick

If you recall, there was a huge incentive to get coal fired power going. It was called state ownership.. Once the risk was taken out of it, the private sector were availed the profits.

That really is clutching at straws - or pearls... Nuclear power stations close down for refuelling, too... Was 30 days per shutdown when I was in the game. I know, because our software saved a whole 2 days per shutdown. Which was a big deal and saved a couple of million per shut down.

Yeah.. I did get carried away, and was putting off yet another tip run. I did have one prior to judgement day.. I am not going to try and influence the results. After this one, I think I will retire from heritage refurbs.. The latest on the reno, which just gets more depressing, is that SWMBO called me at work in a mild panic that the power had gone out. Got the sparky around and there was some shorting in the basement that was throwing the RCDs. More inspection yielded corroded switches from a long gone damp issue, and more rewiring required. ` Having said that, I do follow a youtiber who tours rural towns in different stages of decline or prosperity, and have seem some tempting properties: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveWithoutAMap Here's one of towns in SA: Now, as it is still early, I am going to go and fill the car, which seems to be dying a slow death, with junk to take to the tip.

I didn't get to my bike today - that will have to wait until tomorrow now as revving it in the village at 6:30pm is probably not a welcome idea. And we have guests in the cottage. Anyway, I thought I would take the time out to muse a little more about the good, the bad, the ugly, and the meh! First, I took some video and combined it, spliced, sped up the boring bits, and didn't add music to the sped up bits. But it was made to show the offspring what they are missing out on more than anything else. And I have to say, it does show off the good a bit, despite a) the poor photography as I am pretty self-conscious when filming in public, and b) I left both my car camera mount and the base of the camera that plugs to mounts at home.. getting a cheap but good enough mount wasn't the issue - getting a camera base - even at JB Hi Fi - was. So a lot of the car shots are either me holding the camera in my hand, or when I was driving, perched on the door between the wing mirror and what used to be the vent windows.. I am not sure what those windows that no longer open are called now. And, the melodic beeping you occasionally hear is the deat belt sensors failing to realise I had my seatbelt on (it was an old car my brother has for when his daughters visit from interstate). Warning, it is 30+ minutes of boredom for many. Here is the vid: Note, it is Queenscliff and not Portarlington Ferry Terminal.. I wasn't concentrating. OK, back to the observations: The ABC - If you watched the vid where I was driving, I had radio national on. This is an absolute national treasure. I know some on here (and elsewhere) would like it defunded as it reports the facts regardless of who the subject is of, and let's face it, those that call for it to be defunded seem to have their delicate sensitivities offended. But there was all sorts of great reporting - from nutrition, medicine to politics ( foreign politics was very good, tooo), finance, and the like. There was a story about a couple entrepreneurial students from New Orleans who through recycling glass bottle back into sand and has sparked a movement of rebuilding coastlines as a result. Some would have said they were woke not letting the bottles go back to landfill, but they are now making millions.. So, big tick for the Aunty - I feel it is much better than the BBC now, although I was listening to BBC4 today and the comedy (real) was still as good as ever. Although Melbournites more or less seem content and relaxed, I can't help but think they must be nornally very uptight because virtually every street corner with shops has a Thai massage place. What is that about? I am sure some of them offer more than just traditional type massages, but the lot of them? No wonder men walk around content and smiling these days 😉 When I went for my flight at Moorabbin (YMMB), I arrived quite a bit earlier than I needed to. I am still aghast at the development that has gone on in that precinct, but if it means keeping the airport going, it is a necessary evil. I am still ropeable about the demise of the, admittedly old playground and BBQ, which would bring impressionable minds into aviation; but they do have a space and a park bench next to the airport terminal. Still, compared to most "major" GA airfields here (of which there are fewer and fewer), it is an absolute asset. I also noticed from the Tulla freeway that Essendon airport has had a lot of development as well, but as I didn't go into it proper, I will reserve opinion until I next visit (about to book another flight - late October). The bureaucracy at YMMB has increased. I am not going to go into the ASIC requirement, but I overheard a few people at RVAC still complaining about it. As I was a "student" for the flight I took, it did not matter too much. But the requirement to wear a high vis, although a minor annoyance. I asked if I needed to as the instructor had one and I was being escorted by her on the airfield, but apparently them the rules. When I disrobed of the high vis in the plane, the instructor was a little surprised, but I explained to her they are quite flammable and we don't want to be wearing one in the cockpit if a fire breaks out or we do need to do a real forced landing - so, no - it wasn't a protest. But, the requirement at the end of the day is a niggle rather than anything really painful (such as the ASIC, but you can read about that by others on the other site). Onto the roads. Yes, the potholes in Victoria are a bit of a disgrace, but to be fair, the UK tookl a very long tome to sort out their problem after the perennial wet, they still form faster than they can be fixed. However, I think leaving them unattended on the Hume Highway is really not good. I have no idea how the other states are going on that front.. But apart from that, while the services (petrol station, plus dunny/showers + food) along the Hume highway was improved with more of them, they still do have a way to go.. They are more like outback roadhouses than proper services. And the food variety seemed a little bland. The same on the Goulburn Valley Highway - but that is probably more expected. But, on the plus side, the traffic from Thomastown part of the Hume out seems to run much better than it did... and even coming back from Tocumwal on a Friday afternoon it moved well to some new Freeway (Greensborough?). And generally, all the new link roads are great - although as I am a stingy bar steward, I avoided the tolls where I could. The speed limits are generally pretty good, but I am not convinced of the 40kph limit while passing through the shopping strips is really required given the visibility drivers have even in peak hour... but what was worse is many were permanent, so at 10pm, when there is no-one at these strip shopping centres, one still has to crawl. But, it is better than London and almost all of Wales, where all streets are 20mph (30kpm) regardless of the road or the time. The cost of food is still a bit more expensive is Aus than it is in the UK on a like for like basis. But, the seafood is hardly comparable - It is soooo much better in Aus than the UK (cod excepted).. But I cannot understand why at the Vic Market food hall, all the snapper was from NZ. I heard that commercial fishing has been banned in Port Philip Bay (not sure if it was here or from someone when in Aus), but surely we can get it from local stocks around the coast that fly it in from NZ. Come to think about it, I didn't see any garfish. But, while the food is more expensive, whereas last time I came out here, I would say the supermarket quality of the food was better in the UK, it seems to have turned around. I think the quality in Aussie supermarkets is better than it was.. But also, since Brexit, there has been a drop in quality of food in the UK. I had a watermelon here the other day from Waitrose, which is a better supplier, and it had no seeds, no flavour, and less water.. it was actually quite awful. But, I am sorry to say, the beef in the UK is still better than the beef in Australia (OK, I didn't get to sample King Island beef). In the supermarkets, it is about the same price on a $/£ basis and if I compare Tesco to Coles, which are pitched at around the same market demographic, Tesco meat is better... But the independent butchers in the UK by and large have much better meat than the independent butchers I saw in Australia (and I went to my brother's local, which is in an area of middle-high income, so I would guess they would need to do good meat in relative terms to stay afloat). Also, I noticed supermarket cheeses seems to have improved immensely in Aus compared to what they were. They still don't do a lot of goats cheeses though. One the eating out.. KFC in Australia leaves the UK equivalent for dust. If you like dry, tasteless chicken and a scrooge serving of soggy chips, the UK is for you. I needed to confirm to my son KFC was still better and it had not dropped in quality in Aus since I last lived there. And the chips were not quite as good as I remember them, but they were still pretty good for KFC. And the large serving was large.. not a small paper bag we used to get 5 cents of lollies in. Rural take away food shops have changed a little and don't seem to be as good as they were and I didn't try a Melbourne Fish and Chips (I meant to go to the F&C shop I used to go to as a teenager and young adult - in North Road, Ormond.. but didn't get there). I am happy to say though, that the potato cakes (scallops to other states) and dim sims are still delicious - even though I didn't get a steamed dim sim. And, I didn;t have a counter meal when I was in Tocumwal, so I can't compare them. In fact, I only went into a pub twice - once with my brother on Burke Road at the boundary of Hawthorn and Camberwell (Camberwell is a dry suburb - or was). This pub was a "historical" pub, which is why I wanted to go in. But the interior was uber modern and completely characterless. At least the lemon lime and bitters was good (I still haven't had a drop since early or mid March). So, there was no way we were eating there. Asian (oriental) restaurants and takeaways have exploded in Melbourne; Mainly Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean. Thai restaurants seem to be about the same number. We ate at a couple of local restaurants to my brother's house and they were very good, I have to say. One was a hole in the wall on Glenferrie road, and it was always packed. One was quite fancy, but for three of us (no booze), it came to $130 for a mian each + soft drinks, which, given the quality of the food and the elegance of the place seemed very reasonable - much cheaper than similar in the UK (although Oriental Asian food in the UK sucks). Actually, I did have a counter meal. We ate at a pub in Portalington (can't remember what it was called, but it is the main one), and I had flathead. The pub's was recently brought back to life from a derelict building (I understand) and it was sympathetically restored. The food was OK - I don't think the flathead was fresh (i.e. I think they bought it frozen). Again, this could have something to do with a ban on commercial fishing in Port Philip Bay - if there is one. Although you would think given how close to the heads they are, they could get commercial fishing in the Tasman Sea. By the way, the Bellarine Peninsula has come along in leaps and bounds and is a real challenger to the Mornington Peninsula as a horse, tourist, and wine region. And Geelong is far nicer than it used to be. They have done a superb job of the foreshore area, the CBD, and surrounds. Because of the bypass to the peninsula, I didn't get to see Belmont and the other burbs. And the old part of the Ford Factory seems to have been given a new lease of life as a technology hub. Although my mother lives in Healesville, I didn't get a chance to get to a winery - my mother preferring the RSL or the RACV Club. These were, I guess, also counter meals, but obviously not pubs. The RSL food was what British would call good pub grub - but I don't recall Weiner Schnitzels on the menu. The RACV Club was quite good food.. a cut above good pub grub.. And the portions were such that we only ordered starters/entrees and a side salad. Sadly, I didn't get to visit any of my favourite vineyards such as Yering Station, Coldstream Hills and a few others. But they all look as good as they did. I passed Lilydale airfield a couple of times - I would liken it to Popham here. I have to be honest, despite the rich aviation history in the UK, the successive governments of both colours have been far better at ruining it here than in Australia. Australia gets a big plus for aviation still. I didn't get to a footy game in the end. The game my brother and I planned to go to - Richmond v Hawthorn - ended up being at the same time as my mother's scans,; and we couldn't be bothered going to games of teams neither of us supported. Public transport in Melbourne is much better than it was. I actually got some sentimental joy reminiscing the trams by their route numbers that I used to commute or just travel with. The public transport is as cheap as chips, and free tram rides in the city is fantastic. Not only that, but the tram network makes short trips so convenient. And the underground stations - while no where near as extensive as other cities of a now similar population - is clean, the trains are largely clean and everyone seems almost considerate. I did look at a potential retirement property at Tocumwal that I wanted to develop into a tourism business with an aviation focus as well. I may have mentioned I ended up meeting my ab initio flight instructor who moved there, so that was a really nice surprise on the trip. Sadly, whilst I love the property, at this stage, the amount of development due to its position and some of the features of the land would make it a little out of my financial reach and I am not sure there could be a sufficient return in my lifetime to justify it. I did meet the Berrigan council to discuss. Without an appointee and just rocking up after opening, the planning and building officers made time to speak to me. Despite some of the people I spoke to in Tocumwal being quite disparaging of the council, I found them knowledgeable and quite accommodating. They listened to my idea, offered practical advice, and were very welcoming of business development and let me know that they were there to assist getting suitable developments through. It really was a breath of fresh air. So well done to Berrigan Shire Council. Oh, by the way, if you think Victorian roads are crap, the NSW side of the border were distinctly worse - though less potholes. I may still buy the property to live in, but I will have to fall back to plan B for my aviation tourism idea. In fact, at a slightly different location, I can focus on different markets. What else was there? Oh.. yeah.. Some are not going to like this, but I found the younger as in adult, but say, about 25 years and up) Aussie women more attractive than when I was in that generation, but still a little behind their UK counterparts. But, I will say, I think immigration has had something to do with it. The complexions seem smoother, hair shinier, and I think a more olive, less pale complexion lifts it. I am certainly not into Oriental women, but some of the younger women who had Oriental genes but clearly not from both parents were very attractive. Also, the young men seemed a little sharper and snappy as well. Maybe I am just getting old, too.. Or maybe it is because the food and lifestyle is better than when I was young. But whatever it is, it didn't go unnoticed - nor by the friend I caught up with who was originally from the Mornington Peninsula and worked for me 10 or so years ago in London, and moved back recently agreed.. So it isn't just me. Of course, it is entirely subjective. On the motorcycling side of things, it was a bit disappointing to hear from the Honda dealer I went into that they only get about 1/2 of the model range in Australia, and he was insisting it was the same for the major Japanese manufacturers. I didn't check out Triumph, but the Harley Davidson dealer between Chirnside Park and Box Hill (Can't recall the name of the suburb - think it starts with N, but is not Nunawading) seemed to have a full completment of models available. Sadly, I am not a Harley type rider. Oh, and those bike shops on Elizabeth street are long gone. That is a shame. Also a Peter Stevens shop on I think it was Cantebury road had closed down. Boo! And of course, the reason I was there was to see my mother and help my brother start planning. It was sad to see her starting to deteriorate due to dementia. But we looked at homes, and all I can say is the system is far better in Australia than the UK. Yes, the public ones could do with improvement, but compared to here, they are very, very good. We also looked at private care homes, and the funding model here means you don;t lose your house (as the cared for). But, one gripe is that.. it is a bloody big place and I didn't get to do what I thought I could do while I was there. I guess there were 6 of my days spent in Healesville, but here is what is on the list next time: Mornington Peninsula and to T'Gallant Winery at least (assuming they are still going). Celia's White Pinot and Willow Creek Chardonnay were to die for. And by the time I get out again, I will be off the wagon (but not on the flagon). Apollo Bay If my son comes out for a recce, it will be Brisbane as well (He is now wanting to go to Uni Queensland) If the cricket has started and is in Melbourne, a game. More chokitos, dim sims, and potato cakes (not many chippies do the latter here, and when you get them, they are soaked in oil). Oh, and finally... The big test... An Aussie Cadbury Dairy Milk v. a UK Cadbury Dairy Mile - that is scheduled for tomorrow..

I was also thinking bullets as well..

New battery that held almost all of the charge while I was in Aus. When I shut down the workl computer this eve, I will check how the charge is holding so far (after two weeks back). That is my next check.. Sort of..There are two wires from the controller, but they go to a make connector and meet two wires from the battery to go a female connector. So, I will check resistance across both sets of wires connected.. and if I get resistance, will check each set individually to find the recalcitrant cable. This is the interesting bit. At the connector between the controller and battery cable, the voltage rises... I think it is a tad over 14.4v, but can't remember. However, at the battery terminal, the voltage drops from its 12.7v or thereabouts at a constant rate. Although, it is possible I blew the controller by crossing the cables when I took the reading, I guess.

He seems to come across a lot of them..

Buy yourself a majority in both houses and it is a virtual dictatorship...Yes, if you are not elected, you can't participate, but with the right amount of money, you can buy yourself an election. Even Chump was elected.. by an outright majority of voters who turned out as well as the Republicans taking both houses - legal and so suggestions of interference - unless you count campaign donations as interference. Once in, even within the constraints of the constitution, they can achieve a lot of their aims, which is enrichment. And even operating outside the constitution, as we have seen in the USA, is possible. If, Should Pauline managed to get power, a judge says to her something she did is unconstitutional and she has the confidence of both houses, who will stop her doing it? The AFP? Doubtful as the head of the AFP is appointed by the GG on the advice of the government. The armed forces? Doubtful for the same reason... and then it would be a military coup. Chump tested the limits of enforcement of breaches of the US constitution. So far, he has won out He and those like him have no regard to rules as they apply to others.. Have you forgotten the Robodebt commissioner referred some for criminal prosecution.. and nothing has come of that yet. It appears allegedly acting illegally is less important in Australian politics than it once was. So, yes, it is entirely possible, especially given how many people in the polls seemed to endorse Pauline before her popularity started to abate. Thankfully she and her party have started to implode before gaining a lower house seat. My point was that, like Chump, Farage and Pauline have made inroads into politics of their respective countries thanks to a) being bought and b) having a lot of money behind them to influence the public. Thankfully, their inroads are abating. In Pauline's case, thankfully her ineptness has resulted in the abatement before gaining a lower house seat, which will hopefully stop any chance of her team winning We will find out later this year if Victorians are prepared to back her.

Please explain how my politics is on an other planet about Australia? Isn't Pauline their puppet and the billionaires buying them?

At this stage, it would appear than most countries have the same issue, although thankfully abating in the UK thanks to Andy Burnham; and in Australia due to Pauline's own ineptitude.

To be honest, I doubt he would care as being a narcissist, he probably wouldn't believe it anyway, but he has made himself and a his mates far more richer than before he started office. Not being a man of the people, he is unlikely to come into direct contact with the plebs much, so he may as well be peering down from the top floor of Chump towers at the destruction he has and continues to cause. It does show that it takes a long time for people to change their minds when the evidence is placed in front of them by the person/subject of which people were warning against because they wanted whatever he was pedalling to be true. Regardless of attempts to subvert democracy, looking at polling numbers from Ipsos, it is unclear that despite is increasing unpopularity, the democrats would even gain control of either house let alone ride a landslide in, which in any other western country would be the case.

The walk from my house to the pub is 5 minutes. The walk back, however, is 30 minutes. The difference is staggering!

That's is good advice, but unf, they have a yard and they would just leave it outside until they could work on it. I have since lodged a claim in the county court (equivalent ish to the small claims tribunal) to recover 50% of the cost of that sojourn as they billed work which was clearly not done and they left the bike worse than when it went in. The claim was to be heard today and they literally settled on the steps of the local county court... It had to be ratified by the court as the action was lodged and the clerk, as he signed to doc mentioned something about them being a regular client of the court. They are obviously scoundrels because pre-hearing settling means they don't receive what is known as a county court judgement; if they get one of those and they need any form of credit to keep the business alive, then they would go broke as it is on their credit record and once on, they have to wait something like 5 years for it to come off. Normally, I would say I may see my money or I may not, but the clerk gave them 10 working days to pay, and if they don't, I am to report it to the court and they will enter a county court judgement of default. So, I suspect it will come in Tuesday week. But, the bike is still not able to be ridden too far and I am not taking my son's 125cc to London because a) it would be painful; b) it has no luggage racks and carruing luggage + a heavy duty chain is not really viable; and c) it is a desirable model to those who enjoy appropriating others' bikes. I have checked the stator and it is fine. I have replaced the regulator and the DC coming out of that is fine - but it is not getting to the battery. I have checked the fuses; The only thing I haven't checked is the resistance from the battery cable to the regulator as I think about it. I am guessing the shop tugged a little hard on it or something. I will check it on the weekend.. if it is not the issue, I will have to wait until the 2nd August where I have the bike booked into the last mechanic I will have tried in this town. If that doesn't work, I will rent a trailer and tow it to my old mechanic in London.

Your daughter is correct in the sense that a share entitles the shareholder to a share of the future profits (earnings) of the business; in proportion to the ownership of the company that represents. It also entitles the shareholder to the same proportion of proceeds available to shareholders in the case of liquidation - which is usually not much once the ATO, secured, and unsecured cr4editors are paid. Therefore, the share price is a function of the market valuation of the company against the representation of a) the ownership it conveys of the company; b) any special rights or constraints of the class of share (e.g. preferential shares generally give you a right to profits before ordinary shareholders, but as a preferential shareholder you will normally forfeit voting rights); and the future earnings (profit) expectation of the company. One qualification to the right to profits - it is only the rights to distributed profits (dividend). If the executive management of the company decide to reinvest every penny of the profit and do not distribute a dividend, then the shareholders are not entitled to any of the reinvestment or withheld profit. There are companies listed on share exchanges that are non-dividend shares... This is normally in US markets and a far number of them are on Nasdaq. These derive their value from the "intrinsic" value of the business as adjudged by investors, but there is no dividend payable. The price is usually lower on a price/earnings ratio basis versus dividend shares as there is no income returned (which, to me, makes them worthless as anything other than a speculation share rather than a genuine investment share).

It has always been rare that a brand new venture has come fresh to the stock markets (which is really a share market, as stocks include all cash instruments - debts, futures, etc.. Another American misappropriation of the English language). When they do, they normally go the the "second" boards. The ASX no longer has one as these are less regulated boards and they are literally for investors who can throw whatever investment they have down the drain. Often dubbed penny stocks, you can make a lot of money or lose everything. The London Stock Exchanges operates AIM, but it is subject to tighter rules than most secondary boards, and hence it is more for companies seeking earlier cash than would float on a main board. I am not an equities analyst, but I would suggest that Tesla's stock price is reducing thanks to lower earnings forecasts thanks to robust competition in the EV market and probably the electricity storage market. Their first mover advantage is probably waning. The SpaceX loss may be temporary or permanent - who knows. As I understand (and I just skimmed one news article, so take it on that basis), shortly after the listing SpeceX issued a sizeable chunk of bonds, which is debt. Firstly, it changes the capital structure of the firm and puts the debt holders in front of the shareholders if the company goes belly up.. and of course introduces fixed costs into the business in interest payments. Secondly, as I recall, the planned bond issue was not in the prospectus, so it caught share investors off guard and as large bond holdings effectively dilute shareholder claims to the assets, it further reduced the price. The second point is interesting. I would not be surprised if some of the larger initial investors or early on after listing purchasers of the shares have consulted their legal advisers. Planning a bond issue takes some time as it has to go through all sorts of hoops legally, sounding investors, roadshows, and the like. It wold hardly be something that wasn't in the planning before the IPO. If they could prove on the balance of probability it was in the planning or discussed at board or risk committees pre IPO, then that would amount to a fraudulent omission of the IPO prospectus and could land a lot of people in hot water.. including the bookrunning banks should they have known but not disclosed. This may be a case of watch this space. In terms of the share price, it could rebound based on investor sentiment of longer term earnings.

Nothing wrong with that. Understood it perfectly. I am sure it was written by my brother

Sorry - I didn't see this... There are two ways - human and machine learning. And Machine Learning is often automated feedback loop between humans and machines, but can be, for example, response to external stimuli. Human learning, or tagging, is where a human takes the output and if it is inaccurate, explicitly tags the output to the degree it is inaccurate and corrects it. The data held to calculate the probability will be updated as a result. For machine learning, it is where the machine works it out for itself. For example, if a LLM answered your prompt, but answered the wrong question and you corrected it, it would update the statistical data where it think it went wrong. For non-human interactions, and to take an extreme example.. Say a self driving car predicts the person on the side of the road is not moving in front of it (say moving away from it) but ends up hitting it, it will use the data it received through the camera and radar to adjust the statistical data and learn whatever triggered it "thinking" or statistically deducing it would move away from the car, actually meant it would move toward the car and update its map accordingly... automatically. This is an oversimplification, as it would feed some central AI DB that would recompute the data maps and download it back or something similar. But the concept should be clear enough. It isn't inconceivable. But it would require almost autonomous and dextrous robots to do so, and I don't think we are quite there yet. In the future though, it may well be the case. Without context, the presenter is not making an entirely accurate statement. Yes, AI will work a lot quicker and uncover more vulnerabilities. But firms and governments are already using (and have been for some time) AI to scan networks and systems looking for and patching vulnerabilities. In addition, AI has been deployed to monitor real time behaviour to determine id actions being performed are likely to to be cyber breaches of some sort. So, it will settle down to a bit of like it is now, where vulnerabilities are found by those looking for them from both from a defensive and offensive/nefarious point of view and, like today.. some of the nefarious ones will get through, and some won't. The good thing is that AI will be a far better defence - especially monitoring real time activity that is suspicious. Also, the number of "hackers" (crackers - hacking is what I used to do - programming with "short cuts") that really know the nuts and bolt of what is happening is a relatively small percentage and most of the systems/networks hacking is already available in automated tools - usually free - that can be downloaded. Khali Linux is a cybersecurity "optimised" version of Linux for penetration testers. Basically it comes with most, if not all of the major available hacking software. Not many of these 16 year-old bright sparks know much more than how to download Khali Linux and point it to a server and run the software.. a real cracker would know how to cover their tracks and not get caught - like some of the ransomware gangs... So, this is already available today. And note, at least in today's world and I suspect when the AI between nefarious and defensive actors catch up, the weakest link in cybersecurity is humans.. social engineering (phishing, vishing, smishing and the like) are by far away the most common cause of breaches rather than the stereotyped hooded cracker at a keyboard. Real time AI monitoring will be much quicker at finding this (and already is). What will happen is you Windows Defender will become AI enabled. I found it ironic that Hugging Face, an AI cybersecurity start up was breached so easily. I think that may have damaged its reputation somewhat. The bigger threats on the horizon will be with quantum computing. This is a game changer.

Let's hope

I think you should re-read my posts.. .I have never said that he should just go for the ETA. How many times have I said someone not knowing they are a citizen.... or words to that effect

I can live with losing respect as you have just taken pot shots at my character and not addressed the issue or the facts. What one thing have I hung my hat on? You said removal of the level crossings was necessary for road safety. The reality is, on the statistics. In terms of the pissing contest, you were saying, and I quote: as if that somehow means you know more about it than me... Nothing to do in your post was based on fact. The very definition of a pissing contest? As I said, I don't disagree that pulling them out; it is a great convenience to road users. That does not translate to road safety. But it cost a shed load of money and if the objective was road safety, the data does not stack up.. and if we are priortising lives, then it was a lie. The most deaths at level crossings in a year in Victoria was in financial year 2006/7 in which one accident in Kerang claimed 11 train passengers lives. Last time I looked, Kerang was not in Melbourne. Most railway crossing accidents in Victoria happen outside of Melbourne. According to Chat, by 30 June this year, $17.6 billion has been spent removing level crossings in Melbourne. I am hanging on what you said in terms of road safety and minimising deaths on the road was a bad waste of money. Traffic flow, yes, but road safety, no way. I would also argue improving road design, even with the level crossings in place could improve traffic flow. But that is just conjecture now.

I agree.. that is a pain. But in the context of the requirement to travel to the UK when you don't know you are one, it is of little real effect as it is highly likely the UK government will know you are one, and if it does, it will be picked up at the ETA application stage. You (not personally, but in a collective reference) will have plenty of time to sort it out. If in the future they have the means to check it, again, when you apply for your ETA, they will tell you.. I am struggling with the practical issue on this. I didn't say you (personal reference) nor your family were slagging off the British.. It was a general comment that Britain cops a lot of slagging off generally, so why anyone would want to come here for a holiday has be stumped. (and it was a little cynical humour) You (collective, not personal) don't have to acquire them all at the same time nor renew then at the same time. I was sans an Aussie passport for 8 years (BTW, for me to get one in the UK at normal processing times, it was £450 - c. $900). You don't need them unless you are to travel to the country. I have no idea how often your son travels to the UK, but if it is only ever going ot be once, it will cost him a one-off $200 on top of what, a $1500 airfare. If he got all at once and renewed at the same time, it would be around $60/year. But, if there was a way of combining all citizenships into the one passport, how much would that cost as the issuer would want money for the additional admin required and no doubt the citizenship country would want money for providing the data to the issuing country. So it will still cost. We don't know how much. If you want the benefit of citizenship of a country you have to pay. Yes, it is foisted upon you for the UK; you shouldn't have to pay, and the one off fee for rescinding citizenship is around $1,000. But, if you don't go to the UK, or you don't know you're a citizen and you use the ETA and it says you're OK to go, what is the issue? I didn't say it was a mountain - I said the Aus press were making the mountain out of a molehill: And, yes, my original comment was it was a mountain out of a molehill.. And somehow that has transpired to this great debate about whether it is massive burden or not... I am arguing it isn't.. So I am not sure how I am suggesting it is a mountain?

Yes.. at the time it was implemented.. I am sure they could have provided a transition period or something so there would be exceptions granted where travel had already been arranged... [edit] Sadly, this was one of Kier Starmer and his cabinet's deficiencies; they were technocrats and not politicians so when they went for full enforcement, they didn't really think beyond the rule itself [/edit] I am not disputing that. But the press was also trashing Britain for brining it in at all.. as if on an ongoing basis basis it is a big deal. but Australia does it and has been for years. And they are technically breaching international law as a passport is an identification document, and not a right to enter. If a government positively identifies its own citizens, it has to take them in (to get around it they can recind citizenship, but not if it will make them stateless - that would be a big step in the course of normal people being caught out). Let me ask you a question.. Your son is a citizen of three countries.. Up until Britain required him to have a passport to travel to Britain, he required a passport for two of the countries to travel to them. But adding one more suddenly makes the molehill a mountain according to the press? No one seemed to be complaining beforehand. That is my point.. as I said, I agree there has to be a better way, but the way the press were spinning it, the British requirement was this massive ongoing burden for life, when already two countries he is a citizen of - and lets face it where each off citizens of the other an automatic right of residency (subject to being good citizens) - and if they happened to be citizens of both countries, they still need two passports to travel between them? If it is that much of a burden that your son doesn't want the extra passport then he can: On a one time basis only, formally rescind his UK (and may as well at the same time, Aussie so he doesn't need an Aussie passport, but can still take up residence in Aus at any time); or If it really is that big a deal, just not visit the UK (given how many people trash it, it is a wonder anyone wants to visit at all). Or, if he is not a regular visitor to the UK, don't get a third one until he is about 8 weeks or so (to be on the safe side - it takes about 2 weeks now) from travelling. Or, he could just rescind his Aussie citizenship and that would take him back to two passports (and therefore back to molehill territory). Given it is likely to cost similar to have citizenship stamped in three passports as having three passports, I am struggling to see what the big deal is about having three passports, except if one is really disorganised. As a pretty experienced traveller, I would prefer separate passports as I get to choose which one to enter other countries on, which can have benefits. The Aussie passport was not great to travel in Europe during the Shengen years, for example; The British passport was good in the middle east, believe it or not. But, let's break this down.. If you don't know whether or not you're a British Citizen: Apply for British ETA (preferably before buying tickets). ETA says yes; you are good to go. No big deal. ETA says no because you're a British Citizen, get passport, book your tickets and you no longer need to faff about with an ETA and you get through the immigration queues much faster at Heathrow (or wherever) than non UK/EU citizens (yes, unlike EU countries, Britain still lets EU people in through the citizen route) It actually makes it easuer than those god awful queues. Well done. If you know or suspect you're a British Citizen by descent: - Get British passport - Avoid the queues And the mountain you are telling me is your son now needs three passports? Jeez.. really?

Exactly how are they going to do that? Unless the airlines have access to British government records that the British government doesn't have access to, it is hardly going to be an issue. Dive a little deeper and: They have to get an ETA. The ETA process will check if they are a known citizen. The airline has no way of determining separately that they are potentially a citizen, nor do they need to. What could go wrong? In between the ETA given and travel, the UK government somehow determine the person is a citizen and update their database in time. But they may also do that because the person goes onto a criminal or terrorist list - even if mistaken identity. And the chances of that are, again, making a mountain out of a molehill.. Unless you want absolute perfection in a system... And I forgot to mention, the exact same can happen to travellers to Australia - the ETA can be subsequently revoked because Australia found out the Brit is an Aussie citrizen (or some other reason). (that is effectively what happens).

Yeah - arguing facts v intuition is difficult. I presented the stats in a previous thread in which, from Victorian government sources, the deaths and serious injuries at railway crossings occurred, by a long way, in rural locations.. and the number of deaths and serious injuries in Melbourne was tiny - I can't remember, but low 10s over a god awful long period of time. But, you can argue if you want, but the facts are the facts. So, if justifying the prioritisation of spending public on road safety, then, I don't think it was a good decision because it will achieve jack shit on road safety by the statistics compared to, oh, I dunno poor road conditions, potholes, and poor road design, where in one year death along far outweighed all level crossing deaths and serious injuries in Victoria since records began: So, if your justifying the prioritising of spending public money on road safety, the appropriation of it to the level crossing replacement is an out and out lie. Dan Andrews is a smart politician. He knows that the best way to get elected you should make people happy. Has the removal of the level crossings improved driver convenience? Yep, by a long way. How many lives has it saved and will continue to save? I would argue very few, if any. I may not liver there at the moment, but if you want to get into a pissing contest rather than discuss fact, how long have you lived IN Melbourne. And how long have you lived anywhere near Bell Street both as a kid and an adult.

That is a citizenship thing rather than a passport thing. With the exception of the discriminatory component, certainly before Brexit and even since Brexit, most would consider that a benefit rather than a problem. Free access to the UK to be able to work as well if you want, and as a result, visa-less access to Europe and relatively easy ability to transfer to Europe if you want to work. Now they say, like Australia, if you're a citizen, you need a UK passport. If, as an Aussie, you don't realise you are as British subject and you travel on your ETA, and they don't realise you're a British subject, there is no issue - not even at law, because no doubt a strict liability offence, an honest and reasonable belief in the fact you weren't a British subject would render it not an offence. In terms of cost, the UK passport through normal route is 1/2 the price of an Aussie one. They last 10 years... so, it is £10 a year (they are £100). The requirement to provide proof of citizenship is only on the first issue of the passport, as it is required for the first issue of any Aussie on an Aussie passport. And even with your suggestion, you would have to prove to the passport issuing authority all of your citizenships - as you acquire them.. Or even if you lumped them up into one application if you had them all at the first issue of your passport, they would charge a fee for validating your citizenship in each country, and there would be a fee from that other country as rthey would charge for registering you on their database of citizens with foreign passport holders. And no doubt similar costs would occur on renewals. So, I don't see a massive cost saving, either. I don't disagree with you in that there should be a better way. I just think the reporting of it was way out of proportion to the problem it really is. Ergo, I think they were making a mountain out of a molehill, with the exception for those people that got caught out while the change came in.