Did you know?

[Bruce Tuncks]

How about this for an idea?   We look up the best system in the world ( longest lifespan etc etc) and contract that lot to run our system? We would probably see the super-rich come out fighting, but they should lose the fight. I hope.

[facthunter]

The Super rich live in an entirely different world to Us ordinary Mortals. When have they ever lost the fight over a time frame that's short enough to affect us in our lifetimes? . Another truism. He who Pays the Piper, CALLS the tune.   Trump reminds US that the LAW doesn't apply to HIM. Is he showing ALL the signs of a Dictator and Bully?  Someone to be afraid of IF you don't CONTRIBUTE to his Fortune?    MAFIA  Boss. Pay Da Money and things go better for you Eh!.  Great Business Plan. Nev

[nomadpete]

Except a real mafia has strict rules that don't change on the whim of the boss.

 

In short, mafia (although ruthless and self serving) are more consistent than dictators.

[onetrack]

Trump has simply monetised the Presidency, and stands to financially benefit even more in his 2nd term, than he did in his 1st term - where it has been calculated, he enriched himself and his company businesses, by at least US$160M, by utilising the Presidency to direct funds towards himself and his businesses.

 

It's standard practice for Trump to ensure that visiting foreign dignitaries and leaders are accommodated in his companies accommodation, and he rakes in the proceeds accordingly. According to Trump, he sees nothing wrong with that setup.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-business-empire-expanded-profit-second-term-rcna182613

 

Edited December 29, 2024 by onetrack

[onetrack]

South Korea is an interesting parallel to the U.S. in showing how fragile democracy is. Yoon Suk Yeol, the SK President just impeached, built a reputation as an aggressive State Prosecutor, rooting out corruption, and having great success in convicting the former female President, Park Geun-hye over corruption, whereby she allowed some of SK's top corporations to gain unfair financial advantages.

 

But Yoon Suk Yeol, once elected President, went rabid right-wing, and started making a massive power grab and acting like a dictator. It's been revealed he told the Capital Defence Command chief to order his troops into Parliament, and to shoot anyone who opposed the troop entry to Parliament, after he declared Martial Law.

 

It seems as if Yoon's moves were now all about protecting his wife from corruption charges. What is interesting is the arguments Yoon uses against his "enemies" - left wingers - saying elections were fraudulent, the Left is pandering to NK, and other classic MAGA/Trump conspiracy claims.

 

However the SK politicians seemed to have regained control, and democracy has survived in SK. It looks like a close go, however - and this SK power grab is a pointer as to how Trump would act when threatened, or couldn't get his own way as regards continually using the U.S. Presidency to enrich himself and his mates.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-15/south-korea-president-yoon-suk-yeol-impeached-rise-and-fall/104726734

 

 

[old man emu]

What is the thing that we call a "priest'? 

 

NOTE: I said 'thing'.

[facthunter]

Do you mean word or name?   You call him "Quickly" IF you're a believer and dying.  Nev

[pmccarthy]

A fish mallet.

[facthunter]

I have no idea what OME is asking. Can we have a clue or elaboration?   Nev

[old man emu]

44 minutes ago, facthunter said:

I have no idea what OME is asking. Can we have a clue or elaboration?   Nev

There is a thing which is called a "priest".  The word "priest" can refer to a member of the clergy, usually of the Catholic persuasion. However, the word can also refer to an object.

 

PMC is correct. The thing that is called a "priest" is a tool for killing game or fish. The name "priest" comes from the notion of administering the "last rites" to the fish or game. Anglers often use priests to quickly kill fish. Priests usually come in the form of a heavy metal head attached to a metal or wooden stick. A Nulla Nulla is an Aboriginal weapon of similar appearance, but more used for ministering the last rites to another Aborigine.

 

I came across this word while researching how to humanely kill European carp. I'm going to take up a bit of freshwater fishing and if I'm lucky I'll be catching more of them than anything else. It is against to law to release them back into waterways.

[pmccarthy]

We don’t want you carping about it.

[Marty_d]

Advertising is great... "Perfect robust tool to CALM DOWN struggling fish..."

[red750]

 

Did you realise that 33 + 45 = 78?

 

 

[old man emu]

But it's thirty-three and a third. 

 

[rgmwa]

1 hour ago, old man emu said:

But it's thirty-three and a third. 

 

You’re right. There goes another elegant theory destroyed by an inconvenient fact. 

[pmccarthy]

Did you know? Sir Edmund Hillary led the New Zealand component of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE) in 1955-58, under the overall command of the British explorer Dr Vivian Fuchs. The Christchurch Star had to recall its first edition due to its front page banner headline….

“Hillary, Fuchs, off to the Pole”

Those were the days…..

[pmccarthy]

Did you know? The world land speed record was set at 91.37 miles per hour on January 12, 1904, by Henry Ford. The car had a wooden chassis and no body.

[facthunter]

Quite a few early cars had a wooden chassis. An aircooled FRANKLIN had one in the Late 20's. Usually hickory.  Nev

[nomadpete]

Victor Hemery aboard the unapologetically spartan 200hp V8 Darracq at Arles-Salon, 1905, raised the LSR to 109.65mph.

 

Note it was RHD. Braking and cornering would have been a challenge.

 

Records were made to be broken.

 

 

Edited January 5 by nomadpete
Added a bit

[onetrack]

Ya wooden want to park around termite-infested areas with Henry Fords 1904 race car!

 

In 1912, Francis Birtles and his driver, Syd Ferguson, made the first trans-Australia trip from Perth to Sydney in a 1911 Brush car (which arrived in Sydney in early 1912). The Brush featured a wooden chassis. On their Trans-Australia trip, 73 miles out of Broken Hill, the LHS chassis rail broke in half!

In a most fortunate event, Birtles and Syd Ferguson had just passed a bloke sawing wood! They drove back and acquired a length of freshly-sawn 4" x 2" timber (102mm x 51mm for the inch-measure challenged).

Birtles and Ferguson jacked up the broken chassis rail until it was straight again, hand-drilled two holes in the chassis rail, and using fencing wire they carried, they wired the 4 x 2 timber in place, and continued on merrily to the completion of their trip in Sydney!

 

Here is a photo of the Brush on the trip, driver Sid Ferguson is in the drivers seat. Interestingly, Birtles couldn't drive a car! He took all the photos and navigated the route, as he'd previously done the trip by bicycle! Surprisingly, the car is LHD.

 

Edited January 6 by onetrack

[onetrack]

Oh, I forgot to mention - the front axle on the Brush was made of wood, too! Oak, Hickory and Ash featured large in the car's build. To add even more oddity to the design, the engine ran anti-clockwise!

This was an idea thought up by the designer, who figured that it was less dangerous for right-handers to crank an engine that ran anti-clockwise. Kickbacks from clockwise-running engines when hand-cranking, often led to broken thumbs, and even broken arms!

 

Edited January 6 by onetrack

[facthunter]

There was a Brush on the re enactment of the event, I rode an Indian on. All entrants vehicles had to be Pre 1918..Nev

[facthunter]

18 and earlier. That's classified VETERAN in Australia.  Nev

[Marty_d]

3 hours ago, nomadpete said:

Victor Hemery aboard the unapologetically spartan 200hp V8 Darracq at Arles-Salon, 1905, raised the LSR to 109.65mph.

 

Note it was RHD. Braking and cornering would have been a challenge.

 

Records were made to be broken.

 

 

I can't see the airbags... and how does it do lane change assist when there's no mirrors??

[facthunter]

The Engineer looks after the Oil feed to the Motor and the fuel and the drivers are REAL men. No windscreens ot cabin heating and airconditioning.   Nev