Jerry_Atrick

A lot of the old houses in the South East and South West of England as well as the home counties are in very good condition... There are some 'burbs and areas of course that are dour, but that is the same everywhere.. North West Victoria isn't know for its housing in pristine condition, from memory. When I was in the Czech Republic 20 years ago, most of their older abodes were also on good nic, which is saying something given the average incomes they were on at the time (no idea what it is today, but a friend I keep in touch with has a darned nice car.. some top of the line Audi). Romania was pretty shoddy and some a lot of areas on the outskirts of Paris, that were reasonably well heeled looked dilapidated.. I imagine the pollution those buildings are exposed is a lot more in those dense areas than most places in Aus. But I remember when I was looking to buy a house in Melbourne - south east - there were lots of Californian bungalows with rotted stumps, leaning floors, saggy ceilings and the like.

Yeah - I think I must have, though the name doesn't ring a bell. It was a name of Greek extraction, though.

Maybe we need a Dutton's Dailies...

Yeah.. sometimes we are masochists...

The next one is in Vic.. but bugger that gyprick ship.. it will be lime plaster all the way.. and proper render outside.

https://www.socialaustralia.com.au/settings/

OK.. Have half of the walls sanded - all that I could reach. I was generating so much dust, and I forgot to kick back a blanket over the bottom of the door, that dust seeped into the hall way and set off the smoke detectors. I didn't hear it if course, with the sander blasting away. Anyway, as promised, some pics. The before with these really cheap shleves, where the photos make them look 10 times better than they are: And, so far (yes, there's a lot of crap on the floor including stripped wallpaper) Those patches of bare well in the middle photo are of where I hand stripped vinyl paint that came loose from the steamer.. looks like they didn't PVA or prime the walls - just threw paint on them. Plan is to finish sanding, wash down, clean up, fill obvious stuff (and there is a bit) and PVA today. If I can get that done, then base coat tomorrow and see what else neeeds filling. I don't want the walls to be perfect, but there are a lot of holes and areas where the skim has come off. And, we had a nice distraction today.. a hot air balloon flew over the village and landed in a fields adjacent to our place, where we walk the dog. It is being rested, so no crops on it.

Can already feel it...

@Litespeed - Glad to hear things are on the up. Best wishes for smooth sailing from here on in

The US beef indistry is calling for tariffs on Aussie Beef: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/australia-accused-of-being-by-far-the-worst-in-beef-trade-20250320-p5lky4.html Yes, we have had a c. $800m/year trade surplus in beef with the US.. But, that is because, despite this claim: “You can’t ignore a $US29 billion [$45 billion] trade deficit in beef [over 20 years]. All we are asking for is fair trade – that really can’t be too much to ask. US beef is the highest quality in the world, and if Australia is unwilling to recognise that, then it is only fair for the US to reciprocate.” US beef is no where near the best in the world. Their feed and chemicals make it tougher than most. Most Americans I know were shocked when they had good UK beef; one friend of mine from Pittsburgh, who is a beef lover and has eaten at the reputedly best steak houses across the USA could not believe how good our standard supermarket fayre was. I met him in Melbourne while he was on some ADF job, and we ate at some famous steakhouse in Richmond or East Melbourne - can't recall it's name, but we was completely blown away at how good the beef was. claiming it was better than a NY steak house. There was a plaque from that NY steak house on the wall of this restaurant recognising its quality. Argentine beef is reputedly the best in the world (ex. wagyu), and a couple of years ago, Australia won the best wagyu beef awards in London. The reason why it is in such deficit (and I can't ever remember seeing it in the UK) is it is crap compared to many others.

The hypocrisy is that these MAGA nuts are happy to spread their lies and division, but when challenged hide behind "free speech"... One rule for them; another for everyone else.

Blimey - when I saw the thread title, I tought it was about MAS - Middle Aged Spread....

Have been a little quiet on this front - not for lack of progress, but in the slow redecorating stage now, and with over 6,000 sq ft, it is taking a looong time. Had the last working days off work, but struck down with man fly pretty badly and only got a little done. Managed to pull down the shleving in the formal dining room and completely strip the walls of wallpaper. Dang, the walls are in not great shape. May just skim them, but money is now an increasingly scarce resource, so, with another 4 days off from tomorrow and starting to feel a bit better, will see how pacthing, a coat of PVA, primer and one of those thick filling paints (base coats) goes first.. Photos to come Thank blimey I bought myself a good random orbital sander (brinign it with me to Aus).. A Bosch.. don't get that tingly feeling afterwards.

Oh, I think you can.. after all, he admits he is a dick, but the problem is he can't remember it was him acting like a dick:

How do we treat the US? From my understanding: We allow them t have their bases here. We historically have a large trade deficit with them (in other words, they have a large trade surplus). That has only changed this year because their ultra wealthy see the writing ont he wall with Chump's policies and are going to a safe asset - gold - and are importing it from all over the world like crazy. We sell them aliminium that they did ot impose tariffs on previously.. but it was not dumped - it was sold at wither prevailing spot price or in accordance with futures or forward contracts (Vance lied when he said we sold subsidised goods); Unti Abbot clamped down on the car industry, we allowed the US car mnanufacturers to claim the 150% R&D tax deduction through transfer pricing R&D and not carrying out anywhere near as much as they claimed they did. Oracle, a large software company still claim their R&D centre in Aus, yet they don't do that much development there. AUKUS. Australia has signed up to $380Bn purchase of something like 8 subs, but have committed soemthing like 8bn just to prop up their ship building industry and we can't get anything back even if the US decide they don't want to supply us.. Most of our defence procurement is spent on the US We have sent troops to fight US wars that have no impact on Australia, and little in local geopolitics We have far more people move to the US for work - called the brain drain - we pay to educate them and the US gets the benefit of that education. And with all of this, we have lost our self-sufficiency in many ways. What does Australia get out of it? A promise (and increasingly unlikely to be honoured) promise that should Australia be invaded, the US may come to our rescue... So, tell me what else do we get from the US and what else do we do to treat the US so badly? So, I would argue we treat them very, very well.. using Chump's vernacular, we treat the US beautifully.. don't we? And they stick it up our arse.

On the Morning tonight Peninsula? Geez, they'll be ripping up those grape vines if they find out

I thought this, too because compared to others who have since been constrained, he has taken the cake. But, to be fair, this is now educational...

Wow.. I am all for this... But, what is a Super Medical Troubleshooting team - and to make sure they're doing their job properly, wouldn't we need a Super Super Medical Troubleshooting Review team.. and so on, and so on. and so on? Yes,.a celebrity but, Nah, given they could fire anyone at will, without due process, and maybe for administering vaccines, .. I think it's Rob F Kennedy Jr... I think GON is an aberration of the Trump administration - they use us as a sounding board. If we don't like it, they will implement it.

Guess you can no longer say Chump avoids fireworks and war https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/donald-trump-air-strikes-sanaa-houthi-rebels-red-sea-shipping/105057492?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Rather than groups this into the what has Chump done now thread, I thought it would be pertinent to create a thread of what others are doing in response to President Chump. I am not talking about direct responses, such as the EU and Canada putting up its tariffs in response to el Chumpo, but more far reaching consequences. And, this is the first one: I actually think this is as an advantage, however, like almost all things humanity, we either don't foresee issues, or we are too lazy to act on them until they are in our face. Not, two months in, Portugal has decided not to go with its decision to purchase F-35s on the basis that the US can no longer be seen to be dependable, and the real risk they may curtail a country being able to use US built equipment to defend itself. Canada may well follow suit. especially given SAAB's offer for full technology transfer to and manufacturing in Canada. Marles has come out recently as saying the US us a dependable ally, but is Australia really not reviewing its AUKUS contract and thinking, maybe there is a more reliable partner out there? The geopolitical sands are shifting very quickly... strap yourselves in, its going to be a hell of a ride.

There, there

Another source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-weighs-travel-ban-dozens-countries-memo-says-2025-03-15/ There are three groups of bans- one total, one partial, and one partial unless they address "deficiencies" (not sure what they are) within 60 days. According to the article, it is being planned - not yet formalised, and they quoted 41 countries.

Except for the footy, Nev Still working and will be for a bit tonight; also have the man cold plus, but have the fire going and a glass of Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardy... All is good!

This is an interesting synopsis: