Jerry_Atrick

After a pretty crap week in which I have had a jimmy leg, I took the kids to London last night for them to attend their primary school's summer fair - a sort of nostalgia visit to celebrate daughter completing her A Levels (HSC/VCE). It was the first time in 10 years she returned to her place of birth and formative years. A little nostalgic walk and, as my leg is still not fully recovered, I ducked to the pub for a spot of lunch, while they met with their old friends for a spot of reminiscing. It is a beautiful day in Richmond, the sites are lovely, I have had a nice lunch, and once we pick the little-uns uo, I will be heading to a mates house for a quick catchup before driving home. I am tempted to grab a hotel, but the prices are skyrocketing due to the season. Pub is booked out.. but this is why I love family owned and known businesses. Last week, I thought I had the room booked for Wednesday. Rang up on the Tuesday at 6pm to say wasn't coming tomorrow because of the leg. Dang it, had the room booked on Tuesday.. Had it in my diary for Wednesday. Said not to worry as I would cover it. At 9pm, I got a text saying no worries - he had sold it for the night. Apparently, the plumbing of a neghbour broke down and they needed a room. Sold. He could have not said anything and charged me a night and I would never be the wiser.

Getting a haircut. I an receding, but refuse to shave to scone. So, I begrudgingly pay the same as a specimen with a fully grassed top for a haircut. So, as a result, I wait a little bit longer between haircuts, though, despite being matty as the last haircut, there seems to be less cut hair on the floor and the smocky thing they put on. However, today, long overdue, not was there only less cut off than last time, but it was predominantly grey!! FFS.. Welcome to the grumpy old man's club!

Not that II know of.

OK.. back on track. At this stage, it looks like a proposal. But to be honest, there is a bit of a funding issue Vic seems to have to deal with. And one has to look at all options, (is it) Jacinta Allan seems to be a a similar predicament to Joan Kirner.. taking over from a premier who has decided the bed they made is no longer comfy to continue as the people's premier, so pass the baton, which is a poisoned chalice, to the next one in line. Trust me, I know what it is like as that is what I have now, and it takes a certain person to be able to take it on (and I am not saying I am that sort of person, by the way, or at least haven't been given the seniority requisite for what needs to be done). This is an article that I read this morning, which brought back the memory of the Kirner reign: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/unprecedented-level-of-bastardry-in-allan-government-hospital-cuts-20240628-p5jpm7.html Now, The Age isn't exactly sympathetic to Labor, but they are more even-handed than many others. However, assuming what was in the article represented mostly fact, it outlines a real problem. She is effectively from he shadow of Andrews, who was a very powerful figure. She doesn't have the same gravitas as Andrews and is not independent of his administration. To be fair to her, it's a tough gig, made tougher because of her association with the Andrews government, because any action she takes that can be perceived as an admission that the debt issue is now not such a great idea will be an admission her participation in the government wasn't great, whether or not she had anything to do with it. And then you have the internal politics that comes with the territory. That is why it would have been better to find an MP not part of the cabinet to do something.. someone independent of the previous administration would be able to take action without bringing themselves into as much controversy. So, she has little choice than to propose ways that raise cash secretly before announcing them. However, if the above article is anything to go by, then she can't just railroad things. Frankly, if she put a sunset clause on the probate fees rise, I think it is not a bad idea. Unlike Kennett, who raised all rates by was it $100, whether you live in Toorak or Sunshine, this affects people who can probably afford it; over $5m in assets, finding $15K will not normally be too hard. But of course, have to work out how much it is likely to contribute. I still think that the idea of borrowing when they did was right as it presented a perfect opportunity for much needed investment at very low rates - certainly less than Toll are charging the public today; I recall checking the bonds they had in the markets and thought they were fixed interest. Of course renewals and new debt will be higher. But, hopefully, if they had variable rate bonds, they took interest rate swaps to effectively fix the rate of the bonds.

An ex-Navy Seal friend of mine, who would naturally vote conservative said he couldn't vote Hillary in 2016 because she maide some disparaging comment about the armed forces. When I pointed out the number of disparaging comments he has made about the armed forces including calling them suckers and losers, he seems to gloss over it. As he is a part owner of a business that is successful, I guess that figures more in his thinking, because, there is no other answer to it; unless the press is so biased towards Republicans in the US that they don't get told the vast majority of stuff. I was listening to a US election journo on the radio and he was saying this is the election between two people very few really want for president. Also, he was saying the debates don't directly impact the election, but the snippets that circulate on social media do, as they play to the echo chambers the swinging voters, who are unlikely to be that interested in politics, hang out in. Apparently, the number of voters who can swing the election is in the low hundreds of thousands! So, yes, anyone with a smidgeon of intelligence can see through lies, but are they (as most of us are) so wedded to inherent bias, that it doesn't matter? It is likely only the Democratic faithful would have cared about the after debate speech. I personally would take Joe on his death bed to run the country over Trump and the current crop of the more publicised Republicans. Joe also has a stutter, which wreaks havoc on his public performances, but, the clip below that is posted for comedic value, but is a very, very sad indictment of the state of democracy in arguably the most important single country in the western world:

I agree, OME. I have a real aversion to it on that basis. In my local Co-Op (think better than a 7-11), they installed self-serve checkouts and I would normally prefer to wait and speak to a real person. Of course, after they installed the self-serve checkouts, they reduced the staff through attrition. I get on well with all of the staff there and we have a little touch-the-nose agreement that if they are really busy, I will use the self-serve, but I don't mind waiting to ensure there is enough demand to keep people employed,. One time driving home form London, I stopped at the motorway services quite late, when only the WH Smiths (sort of a newsagent come convenience store - there's one in Melbourne airport, but it is a UK chain). There was some new self-serve checkouts and a sign that if you are paying with card to use them. I ignored it, and this older lady came scamping over to serve me and shen O presented the card, she scolded me for not reading the sign. I commented back to her, I [refer to deal with people and the more people that do what I do send a signal to head office they can;t just get rid of her job..

Partner's supplies and ease of access.. also builders beers are kept there

Thinks have slowed down in the kitchen front, as the building inspector has not been yet, so we can't encase the new bean and get on with the flooring. Also, the plasterer has gone awol and we have to find another. But, on the bathroom front, things are moving a little. The bathroiom needs some more wall panelling, and then a lick of paint and accessories (mirror cabinets, etc): The old grubby shower room that was tiled and had no tray, and leaked like a sieve is almost done. Doggo can't wait to use it: The boot room has a new shelving/hooks, shoe storage, and a new rad installed. Note, to the right of the radiator is a pipe cut off. The basin was there, but is now being moved to the toilet to the right. And, just to give you a view of some of the upheaval, the wine fridgle is next to the phone, and the new kitchen has taken up residence in the living room: I'd show you the dining room converted into a kitchen, but it's a mess at the moment.

Sadly, I had a few minor health issues that had be unable to stay long at a desk, and so, with only a phone, had not the appetite to tap messages. However, all is on the mend, but, as the betting app is mainly click aith putting in a couple of digits for the bets, I managed to get a couple of bets on. Firstly, those sweet bets fizzled a bit when I looked at them. But, here is where I am: Brisbane Lions v. Melbourne. For me, Brisbane was a sure bet as they were for many because the odds, as I recall. showed it ad about 1.17 or thereabouts. Not enough for me to bet, I sat it out. The game has been played and they ended up winning, but not before trailing by something like 30 points at hald time. As I was bored at work, I checked teh AFL web site, which is how I found out. Immedately to the betting site; a tenner on Brisbane at 3:1 and they won by 5 points. £20 win. Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs - Freemantle don't travel well and Sydney are the yardstick. With no major injuries or suspensions, I placed £100 : 1.25. This is the riskiest bet and they are due a loss. I just can't see it being this week. North Melbourne v Bulldogs - doggies are likley, but at $1.07, way too short. However, tempted to put a tenner on the Roos, except the dogs have some start studden comebacks, and the Roos lose on. So sitting this one out. Gold Cost v Collingwood: I think the pies will beat the suns, but it is too close to call for me. So sitting it out. Adelaide v GWS.. No idea who will win this one. Both at the moment are rubbish. .. sitting it out. Geelong and Essendon - although this is at the MCG, it is a Gellong home game. Essendon are doing very well at the moment, but Geelong are a little tired. I am about 80% certain Essendon will take the gong. So I have put £30 @ 1.85 St. Kilda v Port Adelaide. No idea who will win this one.. easy could go either way. No betting. Richmond v Carlton - Carlton easily at $1.08; Odds are too low. Though may put some on. West Coast v Hawks. Harly ied is back from a one week suspension and the West Coast are playing at home. This is going to be a cracker, and I cannot work out who I think will win, as West Coast, with Reid, are a fearsome unit on their home turf (travelling is a different matter). The Hawks are resurgent lately, and are feilding one of their better sides at the moment. I think this wilol be close - too close to call. Currently sitting out.

More like usd 500k https://www.news.com.au/national/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-faces-huge-bill-for-freedom-flight/news-story/35d1dd3230800745c6ddb34b2e7bc7b8

I am trying to understand what your point is. After about 15 years of investment, renewables have shown they can handle around 35% of the electricity requirements, and it is still a maturing industry with a lot of technological progress to be made. That, to me sounds like an argument for renewables. Yep, it will have to develop to be able to handle 100% of the demand, including EVs, which is also a developing technology To me, what you have posted is a bright future, not a dim one for renewables, and one that we can achieve at much more total cost and ecological effieicnxcy than nuclear - in Australia. I do beleieve you have finally come around. As I have said, 20 years ago, I would have definitely supported nuclear, not knowing the renewable industry development and growth. Times have changed. And if one of the key benefits is that the electricity will be cheaper, er, all evidence points the other way.. But don't take my word for it; as usual, I like to try and work with facts rather than fiction or selective facts. Here is Monash University's take on it, of course, unless you thing they are also Albo psycho[phants: https://lens.monash.edu/@technology/2024/06/21/1386823/how-would-a-switch-to-nuclear-affect-electricity-prices-for-households-and-industry Note, until we actuall see the details of the policy, it is mostly what is likely... and I don't think anyone else can be in that bucket.. unless they have the, ahem, facts of the policy.

Hmm the above are really solid-researched facts... But, I do like this quote earlier in the thread, and in thee context of the above two quotes, whole-heartedly agree.

What, because there are facts based discussions? Of course.. look I get it - a lot of people can make money out of it, including me. Problem is, to many, we like the economy to work for the majority; not only the minority

That tells me you do not understand First Nations' peoples culture. As part of a society, whichever, and whenever one arrived (especially of one's own choice) you take the liberties with the obligations (or to put it crudely, the good with the bad). To take your logic further, your taxes shouldn't have to pay the debt incurred from Aussie forebears before you arrived. Is that your argument? Or is it only applicable as an argument when it comes to First Nations peoples, that it applies? [Edit after typo fixes.. but I am sure there is at least one remaining]. This is the sort of poop of our derision of immigrants of a certain religious pursuasion.. They have to accept Australia, and not try and make Australia a copy of their culture.

When Corwn Casino forst started, I recall a woman leaving her toddler inside who dies (let me look it up). Do you know, I can't find it, so maybe it was someone who did throw a roock through the window. Let me look that up. (https://www.theage.com.au/national/court-lets-casino-pair-keep-child-20030902-gdw9rl.html). It was 20 years ago and few few Grange's as well as many lesser wines have taken their toll (not Toll!) This is not an EV issue - it is a Tesla, or more generically, an engineering issue. There are many ICE cars today that have all sorts of automation. Traditional car designers tend to have more experience in the safety systems that get people out of trouble.

You laugh, but I had exactly the same issue two weeks ago. I was staying at my usual pub when in London for work (https://www.dukesheadrichmond.com/). There is enough space for three cars in the car park.. and I have been told it is OK for me to park there. The landlord knows I leave by 5am latest and he knows my car, and obviosuly my room. Normally I don't park in the car park as between 6:30pm and 6:00am, parking is free in the meter bays and there are plenty around (the rest is residents permit parking, 24 hours). However, as there was some rugby thing on, the place was parked solid. I woke up and was ready to go at about 4:55 and there was this black beemer not parked in the spare spot next to me, which it could have got into, but parked right behind me and half hanging out the drive. Finally, at 6am, the morning staff arrived, and I asked them to contact the owner of the car and get the owner to move it. It was the landlord's (or guvnor's) car! He complained about me waking him up at 6am.. I think he had a good night at the races at Kempton Park, probably drove back "slightly" over the limit (since Theresa May got rid of 20,000 police officers, road rules enforcement has taken a hit) and just went to bed. Hang on, need this fleeting thought thread.. or is a fleeting thought a random thought.. (and yes, I know we are on the silly pictures thread).

In the old days, all we had to worry about was drunk drivers. These days, we have to worry about stoned drivers. I remember an old joke when we were about 18 (4 0 years ago), "why drink and drive when you can take drugs and fly?". (for the record, I have never taken an illegal drug). I have no idea what it has to do with the above two posts, but that memory (is a conscious memory a thought?) just popped into my head.. Maybe we need a fleeting thoughts thread.

Here is the 10 Yr history of spot electricity prices and note there was only one period they went over $200mw/hrs. Despite being well under that, generators generally are still making money. https://www.energycouncil.com.au/analysis/spot-market-prices-and-revenues-ten-years-of-historical-spot-prices/ Couple of other things. First he tries to dismiss the generation cost in favour of to consumer cost, but the only real difference apart from the amount of power if one goes for bigger reactors of course is the fuel and quality control of the kit.. so it really is a bit of a furphy.. with the exception of the percentage of capacity operation. The second is more subtle. I find when experts spend more time being condescending and less time talking objective and as full set of facts as they can get in the time, they are pushing an agenda and not having a debate

A medical reactor researcher would have just as "little" generation costing experience as the CSIRO. As @Litespeed says, he is full of BS, just talking about 1/2 of the issues. For example, the nuclear tech regulations are [retty well homoginised. However, there is this thing called seismic activity, which can wreak havoc on them. Also, there are local environmental issues that have to be taken into account. I worked in Abu Dhabi (part of the UAE) for 2 weeks with their oil company and that was enough for me to observe they don't pay too much attention to their land-based environmental impacts.I would hope Australia, like the others, pay a bit more attention. Also, they don't have the planning regulations we do.. and these also have to be respected in, what he calls a modern democracy. Surely, the rule of law counts for something? He is right - the operational cost to generate from is lower than fossil fuels and its capacity is higher (one of the reasons the operational cost is lower than fossil fuels). But it is certainly not the case against renewables. However, this ignores a couple of other costs. Firstly, the amortisation of the initial build cost over the lifetime (plus extensions), as well as further capital expenditure which is not considered operational cost to re-engineer parts of the plant as more eficient ways of doing things and better technology comes along in non-reactor plant. This can be anything from the shafts to clear water feed pumps. This is all capitalisable and not directly expensed (but is over a 5 year period on average). Secondly, there's this thing called decommissioning at the end of the plant life, and that can be quite a bit more than the initial build. I can't remember, but I think it is the Berrkley plant that haa had a plethora of specialist decomissioning engineering and operating firms go bust trying to manage the decom. The government has to always step in to fund it until the next player comes, and the cost increases. These days, it is at least European and US law, if not part of IAEA requirements to provide funds for decomissioning. And, it takes years. It isn't just a case of puring concrete into the core and walking away. People are still managing every decom plant. Telemetry makes it a little cheaper, but not much. Ask yourself this question - if it is that much cheaper, why do they need a c. $200 per mw/h guarantee? Why does EDF (operator of Hinkley point) require a £94 per mw/h indexed with inflation from when it was incepted guarantee. Surely they don't need it if they can produce the electricity cheaper?

That was an interesting article and I hope it was the journo rather than the professor himself. EVs and driverless technology are not coupled nor dependent on each other. The challenges for EVs are different to the challenges for driverless technology; the two things to over come (which is better light/contrast differentiating sensors for dawm/dusk and one would also think, night; and AI models to process data from those sensors for lane changing are all about self-driving technology. These can equally be applied to ICE vehicles, hydrohen vehcles and even pedal vehicles (well. maybe not the latter). I would have thought one of the key challenges for EVs was charging infrastrcutre and possibly charging times; and possibly electricity generation/distribution/storage over geagrpahically dispersed areas; not whether the senors for the driverless tech is working. (range seems to have been more or less sorted, at least compared to comparable ICE vehicles). And of course, the shift from purchase proce mentality to total cost of ownership mentality. And I would question if the desire is to have every vehicle on the road an EV? I am still not sure of all that energy density packed in large batteries for semi trailers and road trains, for instance. Nor am I sure it is poractical for large station vehicles where carrying spare electricity in the battery equivalent of Jerry cans (I guess they aren't on the roads normally, though).

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This may explain some things: https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/nuclear-new-build-projects/hinkley-point-c

Does that justify not making things right?

The government offered to buy presumably at fair market values (ex works) as nowhere could I find complaints about the prices offered. But I agree, unless they waived stamp duty on new place purchased and subsidised moving costs, or included it in the offered price, it would be more difficult