Jerry_Atrick

I don't feel sorry for the farmers. Often, they are quite cunning operators, especially on the commodities markets. They knew what they were voting for and what was promised. They also knew he didn't have the leash of another potential term, so he was likely to let rip. They must have thought they were going to somehow be exempted from his shenanigans, but I can't see how. Also, how exactly were the purported problems disaffecting farmers (and I will admit, true illegal immigration is one, of which refugees are not illegal until their case has been resolved)? The illegal immigration meant they could get willing workers and a fraction of the cost of unwilling workers. The so called repatriation of industries would take an eon, so tariffs as a stick, without a carrot approach could only go one way and increase their input prices. The removal of whatever health care the poorer workers could access to keep them healthy was taken away and precluding those getting sick from working; making people go without food because they don't earn enough doesn't exactly lead to either a healthy or motivated work force. I am not even sure he was used his tariff windfall to really support the farmers because, unless he is able to override the constitution absolutely, he cannot be elected a third time (although there is spealk the constitution means no more than 2 consecutive terms) and his dismantling of the democratic institutions, of which I have to admit, seem to be falling easier than they should, may help him not need the support. So, if anything, the farmers got exactly what they voted for.. and they would have known it was coming unless they thought somehow they could be separated out. Don't feel for them at all - except those that voted Democrats or someone else.. even abstaining was a nod that they would rather see Chump in than elect a democrat and wait for someone better in the Republican party to come along. And I normally defend one's right not to vote.. but when things were getting extreme, they really had to stand up to defend their interests.. which they didn't. On another note, Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air after a massive consumer backlash on Disney businesses. Here is the Youtube clip. It is a very sobering clip, with even a nod to Ted Cruz: Hopefully there will be a sense in Republicans that Chump is losing it and they revert to some sense of normality.

When they pick up the phone and greet you with, "Melbourne Morgue - Spare Parts - Can I lend you a hand?", get very worried.

Sadly, with technology, there are just fewer people coming through the door. In theory, there is nothing you can do in th branch that you can't do online anymore - providing you have the tech. Want to deposit a cheque - your phone or webcam photographs it and it is deposited. Want to open a new account at a new bank - online identity verification technology is very good these days; want to take out a loan, or open a business account, transfer money, etc etc.. Your bank knows everything about you that they need to, and can do it.. and because of standardisation through the open banking standards, the bank will check your online transfer to make sure the account numbers and names and BSB codes all match.. Probably less mistakes than made in the branch.. Although I understand Aussie banks are behind the fraud detection curve mainly because they don't have to cough up like they do in other countries if they could have reasonably prevented it. If something is out of the ordinary, internet chat (first a bot and then a real person), or phone can sort it out. Everything is presented to the bot and person in real time. The only thing you can't do online is bank in cash. But, I guess there isn't the demand for it that there was. When I moved back to Aus in about 2003 after living here for 6 years, I got my first banking job. I laughed aloud at two anachronisms; first they were still issuing passbook accounts... Second, they were charging feed to retail clients..

who bluddy well said once the kids are out you don't cop the lurgy from the school yard. Daughter came home this weekend all flued up.. and now we all have it! Buggah!

Whereabouts is the church (I am assuming she told you where it was)?

I think Chump lite is a little harsh... One of the issues Labor has is that the press is generally hostile towards it.. If he takes policies against the interests of those that pay the media for their advertising, those whose interests are being challenged will instruct their media fellas that no play, no pay. And, people still believe everythign they read, or allow it to feed their confirmation bias, and votes are lost. The other issue is the electorate will likely punish any sitting party that makes it more expensive in the short term, even if prices will eventuall drop and the economy becomes competitive again. Of course, that is assuming prices will lower.. Leaving markets to private enterprise where there is a monopoly or concentration of large players often means the market doesn't enter price wars because of this thing called collective pretoction of interests.. in this case to preserve margins.

no worries! Live 4 today

Lighten up (had it already)

[Edit] I hadn't watched the whole vid before postig - the purported leaked vid is a clickbait... The vid is a composition of different vids.. but instead of deleting, thought it was worth pursuing until the voicerover form the Indian looking fella. The message from that was OK, it was just bad editing. [/edit] Back to the 1930s

Three blind mice

Head in the sand

I was lost 4 words

Chump's state visit was marred - nay, enhanced - with protests of sorts. An activists group called led by donkeys projected a 9 minute mural I suppose ofvChump and Epstien. Channel 4 apparently aired a marathon of Chump v the Truth. Interesting vid on the former : l whole heartedly agree with the conclusion

That is music to my eyes

Ha Ha.. When I told my son, as I was going to bring him over as well, his response was, "Great, dad! Can I have the £800 you were going to spend on me?"

Looks like getting to Aus will take a little longer:

My next car is a BEV... Many people I know are getting them.. Petrol and Diesel cars are on their way out - at least in China and Europe. Range anxiety is a less of a concern now and it will keep decreasing. It was never my concern. My concern is the time and money I invest in this house.

If you buy Apple for anytjing other than aethetics these days, you're being ripped off. They were great innovators and disrupters, but the pack has caught up iand in some cases overtaken Apple and much lower prices. So, yeah, I would complain, too.. 😉

Yes.. In the old days, I had my way of getting to the front. Sadly 9/11 closed that off. Thanksfully I don't get hangovers.. Am usually fully rested by the time the plane lands in Melbourne.

Yes.... Keen for an excuse to take a few days off (my manager is married to a Melbournian and knows it is a solemn religious festival, and not merely sport). Keen for an excuse to get to Aus, even if for a few days Keen to catch up with a few people I haven't for quite some time. And enjoy a game of footy at the same time

I was not suggesting being belligerent by any stretch of the imagination. Diplomacy is an art as well as a learned skill. What everyone seems to be doing is slurping up Chumps arse and not, via diplomacy, setting a a standard. All these "red lines" are breached by Chump, yet everyone persists? Why? Can you answer that? Because they will be voted out, sacked (execs), etc. That is on you and me.. and eveyone else. That is my point. But if you think it is just getting it off my chest.. well.. you can take it any way you like.. You got any better ideas? Becauise so far, nothing else is working.

A member of me team recently returned from the US - Portland, WA. In his observation, the average American doesn't really know or care what is going on in the Whitehouse; with their government. It is a bit like most people everywhere. People just go about their daily lives; they vote and then they wait for the next election to vote.. that is their participation in democracy. Unless something directly affects them, they see the news, and go about their daily life. The news they see is 1/2 hour a day in the evening, like most people; they see their social media channels, more revolving around lifestyle or interests than politics. Which is why Chump is a product of society. Execs are not kowtowing to Chump.. they are doing what they are paid to do.. get the best value for their shareholders. If it would cost them more to kowtow to Chump, they wouldn't. Kier Starmer slupring up Chump's posterior so much, his nose was poking outside Chump's mouth showed how utterly powerless the UK has been. But it is also symptomatic of how spineless the west has become. At school and at home, we are taught to stand up to bullies, otherwise they will just keep doing it. But for some reason, as a collective society, we seem to have lost our spine to stand up to bullies, accept it is going to hurt, but know in the long run it will be less pain - because the bully will continue otherwise. We have seen it play out with Russia and we are seeing it play out with Chump. The unprecedented second state visit to a royal family who are probably less receptive to Chump and his cohorts than they were to Gadaffi - as an attempt to placate the bully and curry flavour - simply has emboldned him, and after showing the UK as a gutless bunch of arse lickers has achieved no relative benefit. Tariffs are the same as they are for most countries, Chump and his cohorts -0 including Farage - continue to belittle the UK (and other countries), and their coercive efforts become intesififed and brazen. Why do they do it? Because they are scared if standiung up to Chump will heap on some short term pain, the electorate will vote them out - because the electorate collectively won't like any pain.. only gain. In truth, and it is probably by design, more and more of the electorate can't afford the pain as it won't just mean a drop in living standards over discretionary spend, but it will mean they can't put food on the table, keep up the excessive mortgage payments and can end up hungry, homeless, or both. Either way, at some stage, it is all going to end in tears as we have allowed our society to develop to the stage it has and not been more rigirous in who we select and how we participate to make sure this doesn't happen. Is it Cantonese or Mandarin I have to learn?

Devil is in the details

New random thought I had this morning.. If the Hawks win the preliminary final, as a member, I get priority access to grand final tickets. If I can get one, I will be in Aus next week.

Many a true word are said in jest