Jerry_Atrick

I've mentioned it before; one one contract I did for a Vic statutory authority, we put together a RFP and tender for a complete systems overhaul. When the responses came in, we diligently graded them on technical and commercial criteria (ESG wasn't around then). Curiously, a well known German software provideer in the integrated applications space (think ERP, EAM and the like) put in a quote that was by far the most expensive and they actually didn't have the functionality to meet requierments - in other words, all new build. They were competing against well established operators in the space that were significantly cheaper. So, naturally, we put them last in the assessment. The Cheif Information Officer came down to see us, furious we didn't rate this company first. But, even as contractors, we stood our ground and were supported by our immediate management. There was no basis in which commerically and certainly technially this company were in the mix. Sensing that it could cause him trouble if he took it further, he took off in a huff. A couple of days later, ha canned the project, citing the need to cut costs. They paid out our ocntracts. This firm is well known for offering lucrative consulting jobs to client executives after the implementation is completed. They are rumoured to have been done in corruption with Telstra execs, and I see on the BBC News website, they have been fined $220M in bribery charges.

Incompetence or corruption?

Aren't they going to burn all the books?

Had my first ever scamming caller to my landline today. An Indina sounding woman with an urgent tone explained to me that payments for my phone servicec were behind and I was about to be cut off. Smelling a rat, I asked which company she was from. She got that right. Next question - who are you speaking to? "You don't understand sir, our systems are minutes away fron cutting off your phone unless you make a payment now..." "OK, I understand that.. but to be sure you have the correct customer, what is my name?" *click* and she was gone.

c. dr + name does not make a word

If that is as bad as the Vic government can get, surely, it's not that bad? However, I do understand the public angst... Quite what a 15th c. religiou head has to do with the lake is beyond me. May want tp provide a grant to build a shrine or something for prayer.

Will have forgotten which ear...

I largely agree with this, and one of the disadvantages is that democracies with frequent elections don't lend themselves to governments performing long term planning of strcutural changes to the economy - e.g. short term poain for long term gain - as they are only judged about what happens in society, more or less within x. months of an election. Regardless of climate change, renewables in the long term will deliver huge cost reductions over fossil fuels.. It may be a 20 orr 30 or 50 year return on investment.. .But tell the electorate that you will have to fogoe a few more cents in the dollar to make it work,, and you're voted out. But the benefits for our kids, grandkids, and so on, would be enormous. Sadly, we don't think like that. And lawmakers can set interest rates - al l it takes is a change in the law. Central banks weren't always independent, and if Trump has his way, the Fed won't be for much longer. I am not quite as hawkish as you are, and I think it will be segments rather than the whole economy that will collapse..but throw AI into a largely service based economy, and yess, there are many headwinds gathering. Almost every country that has had elections this year has seen a turnover - the electorate eeither blame the incumbents, or they perceive them not to be doing enough to help. The trick for incuments in these times to to show the population that if it was the other guyy, they would be worse off. Of course, the other guy doesn't have to offer any policies at the moment, but incumbebnts (i.e. Albo and Harris) have a track record of the opposition, and can show how poorly they handled the good times, that them handling the bad times was a virtual certainty to end in many more tears than now. What they needed to do was tap into how they were better handling it than the opposition ever could. Going off on cultural and identity politics when people are worse off, regardless of how that comes about, is not going to win votes. Althogh I am sure Labor has handled the economy better than the LNP would have, Albo, IMHO dopesn't have it in him to make the case, and is trying distraction. The QLD state election should be a very big wakehup call to the ALP.. As it is probably too late to change their leadership, they had better start changing their tactics, or Aus will have Dutton as PM.. And he is no statesman, either.

As usual, Americans have to Americanise everything. The potential myth of the English waving their two fingers is because the French were alleged to have cut off both fingers and not one. The middle finger goes way back in time https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16916263

https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/gb/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/linux-mint-website-hacked-iso-downloads-replaced-with-a-backdoor Linux is by far more secure than Windoze, especially for home users, and because it has a smaller market share by far, there is less effort, but the attempts roll in... especially for commercial servers, but the above is one successful hack. If you Google it you will find one attempt that would have infected almost every Linux install, but was identified, ironically by a Microsoft employee

Reminds me, years ago when I was in the guppie set... A few of us took out a Mel Symphony Orchestra season ticket or some such thing.. Went to the first Friday night performance. I am wrestless at the best of times and after a hard week at work,settled in with my glass of chateua de p155. The orchestra played for about 3 hours with an inermission. I can't remember what it was, but think of a run over cat laying and whining for three hours until it finally died.. that was what it was like. I was fidgeting in the seat the whole time.. At the (finally) end, whe the lights were on and we finally stood up, the lady next to me (no idea who she was) was in tears. I figured she was really into her music and said something like - "Ahh.. that was quite moving.." her response was "it was bloody you who was moving - all the way through - ruined it for me." I didn't respond, but at that point, I was thinking she needed to get a life is she would normally have enjoyed that carp. That was th eonly concerrt I went to on that season ticket.

I have to admit, I don't get art outside of the traditional types.. In year 10, a school excursion took us to the art gallery in Melbourme, where people were fawning over a bigh white canvas painted white. Apparently the gallery paid big bucks for it. My response was, WTF?

Albo is rescuing kids from social media.. here is another take

https://www.gq.com/story/suddenly-the-koons-is-this-100k-banana It's official... the world has gone completely bananas

I would not believe that

The car driver had to brake to let the car on the right hand lane get in front so enough time lapse to check, especially if the bike was seen coming at a rate of knots. If the car driver saw the rider coming up at speed, spidey senses should have been tingling for a quick mirror check before. May have been a blind spot or purely focusing on the lane immediately before the car on the right... we have all done it (not necessarily with a bike filtering at the time) Can't really make out the second one but also filtering way too fast

I can only copy one link from the FT, but Skumbag was only wanting to get into the Whitehouse to boost his own wealth - we all know that. But one thing I didn't think of was this: https://on.ft.com/48NWrVG I am only allowed to share one link every two weeks or thereabouts, but there was another chilling article, that was basically saying, with the Supreme court ruling the president could be absolved of almost all criminal liability during office, strap in folks, it is going to be a chilling ride.

Looking at it, I am thinking both contributed to the accident. The bike rider was filtering too quickly - absolutely as the traffic was already slowing and he should have seen it and adjusted his speed accordingly. However, just because a car driver puts on their indicator does not give them right of way to change lanes and they have to check their mirrors and yield to those in the other lane.. Unless the motorcyclist was zipping lanes at the last minute, which at that speed would have been hard to do, the driver looks like they didn't check their mirror properly, otherwise the driver would have seen the bike coming and should not have pulled out, either. Without seeing a bit before where the clip started, it's hard to make a call.. But, yeah, certainly filtering at too quick a speed.

For some reason, the term, "the defence rests it's case" comes to mind

Quite an interesting vid https://youtu.be/MAJafY-4at0?si=XlsyznNqeLBJjGhE

Cortina, Combi, Ta22 Celica, Nissan MQ patrol LWB 2.8L; Nissan 260c, Isuzu Piazza, Fj55 Lamcruiser wagon, Daihatsu Feroza (unbelievably capable machine) HJ60 Cruiser, VS commodore, Audi A6, 2 x SAAB 900s (1 was after GM took over and it was a pile of carp), 1 x mini Cooper, 1 x Mini Countryman, VolvomV50 and Volvo xc90.. OH, and a falcon XP Feroza, Commodore, xc90 and countryman were new

Beethoven

I must be as dumb as dog ship

Under Biden, inflation was the lowest in the developed world.. agree he seemed to lose control of the border a bit.. What woke craziness are you referring to?

We had a decent inversion about 2 years ago.. Spooked the markets for about a day and all returned to normal. You can be your bottom dollar a recession is coming.. and maybe a depression.. just can't work out when.