nomadpete

My swimming performance depends on how far I am from the shore when the boat sinks. Not great at it unless there is a lot of incentive.

Life is cruel. Way back when my children were just a gleam in daddy's eye, nobody warned me that there is no guarantee that I will actually like my children. Or that they will like me. A sign of being a successful parent, is when you find yourself disagreeing with your growing offspring.... without any upset to either party.

Particularly when we see who takes his place. Same goes for orange-o-tan.

At the moment, we have a great reason to quit the deal. If we bail out now, the rest of the world will cheer us on. I hope somebody shows the initiative to act now.

Very good point - very few Timorese could afford the ticket to get to USA even if they wanted to go there. And as far as I'm aware, no Timorese has offended the giant orange ego.

I was being sarcastic. Trumpet usually uses tariffs to punish his perceived enemies. I'm sure he could come up with some excuse. Drugs, maybe?

Should he have just slapped a tarrif on them instead?

It would be better to ditch AUKUS. Our political reputation was tarnished when Aukus happened. The world saw AUKUS as a dubious about face by Australians. And to suck up to USA when their political motives are so clearly NOT aligned with global cohesion, is just silly. Historically America has pretty consistently shown itself to be 'America first, last and always'. Their posturing as being the unofficial policemen of the world, has always been a sham. Few countries would wish to be 'saved' by America.

Great. Can we have another one now?

Read Plato's Republic. I think it was there that Plato proposed a education structure whereby, along their learning process, people were diverted into suitable career paths. At the end of the conveyor belt all That's left is the philosophers. Genuine philosophers are not interested in personal power and wealth. So they were to be selected to govern. And only paid in board and lodging.

Here here!

That's good enough for me.

Nice theory, OME. But what about ethics? There isn't a test of ethics for the winner of an election.

You do ask a lot, old mate.

Hear hear!

Just don't tell me. I don't want to know what sites you frequent. I'm getting on in years and my heart mightn't take it!

Well I hear that the pope needs a new motor.

I offer to lighten the burden of your wallet Spacey..... If that helps.

Youse mainlanders got no idea how tough this hot weather can be.... I just got a 'Hot Weather Warning' from the fire brigade. It maxed out at 23 degrees today! Phew! Tomorrow is forecast to hit 17 degrees! Followed by a 6 degree night..... we'll be throwing off the doona in this heatwave! And RAIN! All day tomorrow.... maybe 3mm of it!

When it comes to deciding what a politician needs, to qualify for the job - I call Mr Zelenskyy as an example. 1. He was elected without the financial backing of a PAC or mining company. 2. He is still alive in spite of showing outstanding international diplomacy and leadership. (And in spite of getting egg on Putin's face). 3. He has done more to unite Europe than anybody I can think of. 4. He managed to get Trump and Vance make themselves look like childish bullys on international television..... without actually saying much at all.

Now that's definitely a positive offset to a gripe.

He's not that old. But maybe his hand trembles with excitement when he posts?

Gripes? Only one really. Sick of hearing about the USA 'situation'. It's like waiting for cyclone Alfred to cross the coast. Sure, The americans are showing the world how easy it is to destroy a country (or two) without wasting any precious nuclear bombs. But please, please. Just GET IT OVER AND DONE!

Marty! That's a GRIPE!

The war has begun?