Jerry_Atrick

Ill be right, jack.. we have oil.. no gas.. but we are entering spring.. so since poms allegedly don't have showers, don't need gas for 6 months..

My son loves diving and is coming back to Aus with us,. I have explained ot him that he needs to make sure he doesnt turn into shark ship.

While the press focus on equities in terms of how the economy is going, the real bellweather is the bond markets. These were surprisingly robust over the last couple of days. As most algorithms will head to US Treausry bonds (USTs) as a safe haven, as the stock market came crashing down, the USTs yields came down, which means the prices went up. This is because USTs are considered risk free. However, the credit bond markets, which are bonds made to companies, also was suprisingly robust on Thursday after the announcements. There are three classifications of creit bonds - financial institutions, investment grade corporates and non-investment grade corporates - or junk bonds. The difference between investment grade and "junk" is that investment grade are usually BBB- and up in the Moodys ratings. Junk can have ratings or be non-rated. It is important to note it is normally the credit quality of the bond itself, and not the issuer, that is important. Anyway, the junk bond market sell off started in the US yesterday, and this is because there are fears of recessions. Some of these are fairly string companies, such as US Steel and Dole Foods. The spreads (between the offer and bid price that market markers provide) is the highest in 17 months. At the moment, the markets are saying to Trump, "this dont look too good" If a US Treasury inversion comes, where the 2 year yield curve is higher than the 10 year yield curve, then its run for the hills time.

Theres no shortage of crooks in most games. These days you get jailed for it: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/stuart-bayes-sentenced-insider-dealing (if you get caught).

Be careful posting that stuff, @Marty_d, son likes diving and snorkelling and he has already suggested us move there.

In general, yes.. The trick is what is the right level? Just remember this adage from Warren Buffet: "When the markets get greedy, I get fearful; when the markets get fearful, I get greedy."

This preoccupation with poms not taking a shower (or bathing) is a bit of a furphy. They want you to think that so they can skimp on providing you bathroom facilities in hotels.

It wasn't when I posted it am I am buggered if I can remember what it was

Blimey! What has happened to yhe Dingo Dollar? It's howling, certainly not growling. Last time I looked, it was $1.92 to the £.. now $2.07! I don't mind it going lower when I move out, but would want a reverse very quickly

Or a knighthood.. Lady Spacey does have a ring to it

Looks like Elons days at Doge are numbered. Despite pouring $25m into campaigning for a Republican judge, every County in Wisconsin swung to the Democrats and against the polls, a democratic judge won. Small win, but a signal was sent the midterms can't be counted on. Trump has apparently signalled Musk may fa e an early exit Elon Musk’s role in Trump administration under pressure after Wisconsin loss - https://on.ft.com/3FTdCL4 via @FT

Congrats, Spacey.. you've both achieved something very few even live to, let alone enjoy that long with the right one

For the UK, Hunan Rights Act 1994 and European Convention of Human Rights For Australia, it is not de nada, but it is what the courts are willing to interpret from the federal and state constitutions, and one such case is Dietrich v The Queen 1992, where the court found the constitution does confer the right to a fair trial (in that case, the Victorian government withheld legal aid where Dietrich was charged with a serious crime unless he pleaded guilty). In the Australian Capital Television case, the High Court held there was an implied right to be informed of policy due to the legal requirement to vote. And of course, the high court's creation of the doctrine of native title is if effect a recognition of first nations qualified rights in the case of disposession. But yes, Australia should have had a bill of Rights years ago.. I fear framing one these days would be rigged like the NACC.. And a bill of rights is only as good as the enforcement mechanisms is place and we can see at the moment when they are very much needed, they are fragile

Surely you were able to get it back?

It's not unique to the Englis at the moment.. Look st what happens in Australia to whistle-blowers or YouTubers who mount constant challenges to givernments or big corporates, while alleged war criminals walk free without trial despite the damning evidence. It may be a reason the lurch to the right is happening all over. The fact Dutton even has a look in speaks volumes

Cheaper than paying a fine to the electoral commission, I would think. I don't know your situation, but if you have a car, a 37 km each way trip will cost you say $40 (I would guess) in fuel and wear and tear. Even at $60 or $80, it would be cheaper than the fine. And assuming the roads are OK, it would be about an hour of your time. As I said, I don't know your situation, but if even postal voting is genuinely hard, or disproportionate in cost or time, then speak to the DRO (not derro); They can give you advice. But if your simply making a principled decision, then you're not at a disadvantage despite it being more inconvenient than someone living right next door to the post office. In that case, you are intentionally breaking the law.. and a fine will be coming your way. This is despite you being forced to live where you are - again I do not know your circumstances or, unless it was a prison, why you were forced to live there. By the way, there is something in the reasonableness test I don't like... It is a reasonable excuse if you don't vote on religious grounds. Surely, religious grounds are simply principles and one is making a principled decision not to vote - which is not a reasonable ground..

Jeepers.. ex AFL players have been dropping like flies, lately...

It is not a head in the sand approach.. .Just because one doesn't wear a provocative T Shirt does not mean their head is in the sand.. It means one isn't going to be a disrespectful dickhead, basically (well, in they way you were suggesting it). I am sure if people engaged Marty in discussion, he would not shy away... and not just agree with everything they said to keep his head in the sand.

Hmmm.. I don't know if they are formally responsible, but my uncle lived on on a farm abour 30ks from the nearest post box in a small town, last time I was there, which was about 10 years ago, I saw him hand letters to the postie to be posted.. So, it can be done..

Last financial year in the UK, I was a month late putting in my personal tax return. It was previously no big deal in the past, as if you were late with a tax return and you owed no money, or were due a return, the late filing fee was waived as they had lost nothing. I don't know when, as I have only been late once before, about 5 years ago, they brought in a change, where they would no longer waive the late filing fee, and for every day late, they would charge you penalty interest, compounding. Of course, muggins here didn't know about it, and as I received the late filing penalty of £100 before I submitted my return, I assumed it was duly waivered. Well today, not even a year after receiving the first penalty notice, and none in between, I received a message saying it was noe alost £1,000. OK.. I understand if I had a balance outstanding, but to impose such harsh penalties that compound when you don't owe them anything, is a complete scam, especially when you don't send intervening letters. For the first time today, I will just suck it up and pay after my accountant advised challening it is a waste of time around the new penalty systemj was introduced to make more money and nothing else. To be honest, it will hurt due to the cash flow being ou the red side fo the ledger thanks to this house refurb... But for others who have been caught out, it will be a lot more worrying.. and cause a lot of despair. For the first time, I thought, I just may vote reform at the next election as they have vowed to do away with this sort of thing as well as a tax changed made that rendered small independent contractors' business model obsolete overnight. And they wonder how these more extreme parties get a bigger following.

This one is a little crass... but...

Well, it was mothers' day here today.. and so I resisted putting on the box set of Benny Hill... 😉 Shes gone off antipodean whites lately - a little too raw compared to their European cousins, and normally tucks into a Co-Op select Pinot Girgio that is about £7 (Co Op is sort of a mid - down market store, but I like a lot of what they do, to be honest). But today, it was off to Waitrose, which is one of the high end supermarkets here (the meat would rival any decent butcher in Aus). And, a bottle of Sancerre (pronounced sonserr) . So it wouldn't pollute my other stuff, it had to go in a separate bag (just kidding!) It wasnt cheap, but there were a couple there in the well over £70 range, so it was a bargain basement one. I decided I would cook today and not my usual chicken pasta, or steak, or pan fried sea bass. My partner loves Mediterranean food, so I found a few recipes of a Mediterranean main, and a couple of side dishes and went to work. I can tell you, I am no cook.. if I lived by myself, I would probably get a roast chook from Safeway and have a basic salad with it for as long as it lasted. Bugger me, it was hard to get timings right, and of course, the times they put in the recipe are never right.. But, somehow, although it wasnt Michelen Star or Rosette quality, it sort of worked. And, as I am cleaning up (normally whoever cooks, the other cleans), massive Brownie points have been earned. I may do my medical and go for a fly.