onetrack

What a pack of American thugs and bully boys, and greed merchants! I'm glad to see Zelinsky tell Trump and Vance where to shove their ideas of peace, and walk out. Now, all that needs to be done is to double the rent on American military facilities in every foreign country, using Trumps bully-boy methods. Tell Trump he can pay double the rent, or piss off! - because your bases are obviously zero value, when it comes to the protection of the country they're in! The only thing they are there for now is protecting Trumps personal interests. I can see a major market developing for "GO HOME YANKS" banners! The problem is, that Trump and Vance are so thick, they don't see that they've emboldened Putin and Kim Jong-il to advance their warmongering plans and schemes, and that they're boosting the Russian and Nth Korean economies with their love of dictators.

Well, good luck, if you think you can! .......

There's quite a good article in the SMH and the AGE about how unprepared both sides of Australian politics are, to face up to the new Trump reality of "isolationist America". https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/trump-has-sent-a-wrecking-ball-through-old-alliances-the-implications-for-australia-are-severe-20250226-p5lfdx.html

There are good and bad models in everything, it pays to do your research before you buy. Luckily with the readily-available information of today, you're in a better position than ever to manage your purchasing. Product Review is a good place to look at user reviews for products. Yes, quite a few "shonky" reviews from "mates and supporters" find their way in, but PR does ask for proof of purchase and verifies that proof. Then you can always use your judgement to discern whether the reviews are genuine or not. 5 star reviews are generally rare, so treat them with due diligence. People who have only purchased the item in the last week are in no position to report on its quality or long-term reliability. People who rave about a product, and cannot find a single fault in it, must have their reviews treated with caution. There's many sites which advises problems with many models of vehicles, any numerous repair centres have excellent information on particular problems with particular models. Just doing a Google search using your vehicle make and model and adding "problems" to the search words usually brings up a lot of information. You can check for vehicle recalls on https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/

The whole scenario reeks of strangeness, and warrants very thorough investigation. Some reports have stated Gene possibly died by falling over. But perhaps he fell over after he was given an overdose. The autopsies will be crucial here.

That's Trump's modus operandi at all times, full of BS and hot air, no focus and no persistence. Can get diverted off crucial subjects in seconds, by pandering to his ego. The ultimate airhead. We've already put down an $850M deposit on those subs, Trump will soon start looking for increased amounts of payments outside contract terms, and then probably tear up the contract, telling Americans the deal "was the worst-ever for America!!!". He'll be looking to see how Trump corporate entities can make more out the deal via unauthorised additions. We'll probably have to buy 10,000 Trump bibles and sneakers for the deal to proceed under his terms.

Unfortunately, that's one of the biggest fake "photos" on the internet. The "coyote" is a German Shepherd and the bird isn't even a roadrunner. But don't worry, the coyote will be packing a set of ACME springs, to attach to his feet on the way down! I can remember watching a Road Runner cartoon at the Kambalda Drive-In in 1975, and nearly wetting myself laughing, at the absolute hilarity of the skits! Those cartoon artists were pure geniuses. I can't recall the exact cartoon, but it was one where Wile E. Coyote had strapped springs to his feet, and when he hit the ground at the bottom of the cliff, he bounced back into a dozen other things, on a repeating basis. It was just classic.

And just how many tens of thousands of public servants are you going to appoint to this giant, all-encompassing Consumer Affairs Bureau of yours? We already have a plethora of laws and regulations to control businesses and business people who are only out to shaft clients. Consumer items come with a warranty, if the item fails when out of warranty, then you just have to wear the cost of replacing it. I have found 99% of businesses are prepared to do the right thing. As an example, we bought a Methven Shower head about 18 mths ago, that came with a lifetime warranty. The warranty, like all warranties, only covers poor factory workmanship or materials. If it breaks due to fair wear and tear, then the warranty doesn't cover that angle. The shower arm developed a hole in it, and starting squirting water everywhere. Annoyed, I pulled it off, to find the shower arm pipe was made of some exceptionally thin material, which had corroded through. When I say thin, I reckon the pipe was about 0.5mm thickness. We went searching to find the purchase receipt, and despite finding all the paperwork that came with the shower head, no receipt could be found. We tried to get a copy from Bunnings, but the time limit to acquire a copy of the receipt had elapsed. So, we lodged a warranty claim with the local Methven agent, and explained the situation. They wanted photos of everything, so I provided them - photos of the corroded shower arm pipe, and photos of the documentation that came with the shower head. The claims process was started and we got a claim number and waited. We waited about 2 mths, then we got an email saying that normally no claim would be recognised without a purchase receipt - but in this case they would make an exception, and a new shower arm would be sent out shortly. It took about another 3 weeks before a parcel arrived with a new shower arm assembly in it. I was quite amazed, the replacement was about 1.5kgs in weight, and made of thick, solid, cast brass! A far cry from the thin, original piece of pipe! I fitted it up (it also came with the swivels already fitted) and it looks great, and works a treat! So I can happily recommend Methven or their agents for honest and professional dealing when it comes to bathroom fittings. There are plenty of businesses who are still honest and produce good products, or who improve their faulty products. If you buy cheap crap, you get exactly what you paid for.

We don't stand a chance defending Australia. A third of the Australian population is now Asian, Chinese own probably 25% of the country, and few people under 60 know what war is all about, nor could they stomach "warlike conditions". They'd roll over in a week and willingly submit to the New Emperor, just as long as they could still have their internet and mobile phones.

We've already handed over our sovereignty to faceless giant international social media and internet companies, and giant global data-collection companies.

In dollar terms, Australia actually supplied more in war supplies and services than the Americans ever supplied to us in War equipment and material. In effect, the Yanks owed us at the end of WW2.

Re the WW2 Lend Lease, the equipment provided under L-L was just that - Lent on Lease. No payment was ever made to the U.S. for L-L equipment, but many nations made good profits out of abandoned L-L equipment and supplies, or L-L equipment sold at discounted prices. It's all on the Congressional Record, if you want to look it up. What Britain DID have to pay for, was munitions, guns and weaponry, aircraft, ships, trucks, jeeps and logistics equipment that was ORDERED by the British Govt. These sales were called "Cash and Carry" and this system was even used by the Germans up until America was bombed by Japan. Numerous Middle East veterans told me about their anger when in the Middle East, and driving old British and Australian junky equipment and vehicles, only to come across Germans driving new Chevrolets - all purchased directly off the U.S. using "Cash and Carry"! There were offsets ("reverse Lend Lease) by the Allied countries, such as food and hospital services, airfields and shipping services, and accommodation provided for U.S. troops, by those nations. Some good answers on the Quora site below .... https://www.quora.com/Was-the-USA-profiting-off-Lend-Lease-in-WW2-or-were-they-just-donating-free-stuff-to-the-Allies

He was in partnership with another W.A. sportsman, Kevin Gartrell, in a business in Midland, W.A., known as Slater-Gartrell Sports Equipment, now trading as Intersport-Slater-Gartrell. I never met Keith, but I knew his business partner Kevin Gartrell, because he worked for Wigmores Tractors, the W.A. Caterpillar agent, and I dealt with Wigmores a lot in that era. In 1978 Kevin left Wigmores Tractors to start up the sports equipment business, and they've done well since. Kevin is 89 next week. I don't think Keith had played an active role in their business for a number of years, due to ill-health. Kevins son works for Westrac, the Caterpillar dealer formed from the wreckage of Wigmores Tractors, after Alan Bond raped and pillaged Wigmores Tractors for their huge cash reserves, and left them bankrupt. https://slatergartrellsports.com.au/about-us/

Somebody needs to rip that golden trumpet out of that lions mouth and shove it up Clives a***. What a blot on the nation that self-serving greed merchant is.

My stepfather owned a mid-1930's Brough Superior SS100 when he was a young bloke in the U.K., before and after WW2! He emigrated to Australia in the late 1950's, and he sold the bike when he left, for not much money. He always cried about how he wished he'd kept it!

I'm with OME on this one, Nev. Kingsford Smith never owned any aircraft called the Flying Cloud. And the engines in the Southern Cloud were Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVB, 7 cyl radials. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Siddeley_Lynx

You forgot to add, "Signed, Donald Trump".

Nev, aren't you confusing ships with aircraft now? The Clipper Flying Cloud, a Boeing 307 Stratoliner, is still in existence.

Nev, that dissertation by MacArthur Job on the Amana mystery, is truly both fascinating and enlightening. https://safeskiesaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FSA_sep-oct2010_The_Amana_mystery.pdf

I was quite surprised to learn that the majority of the KTM manufacturing enterprises have gone into administration, and are essentially bankrupt. The parent company of KTM is Pierer Industrie AG, which owns a wide range of mobility companies, manufacturers, and suppliers and logistics support operations. However, the scenario is extremely complex, due to the web of companies and joint ventures indulged in by Pierer AG. However, there is no guarantee that KTM as a motorcycle and power units manufacturer, will survive. It appears that KTM motorcycle racing operations may be axed completely, or seriously curtailed. It seems that KTM's problems originated in an excessive amount of factory production over the last 2-3 years that could not be sold, due to economic downturns in their markets and regions. There were also build quality issues. KTM's corporate structure is about as complex as Sanjeev Guptas, and appears to be about as profitable as well, too (i.e., constant major losses) - so only time will tell, as what comes out of this massive Austrian group restructure. Pierer AG had recently purchased MV Augusta, and also owned Husqvarna motorcycles (but not Husqvarna power products). The ownership of MV Augusta appears to be set to be returned to the original Italian owners. Pierer AG also owned a sizeable percentage of CFMoto. In addition, KTM was in JV with the Indian company Bajaj Auto, and apparently has a big following in India. Bajaj are now preparing to pump 150,000,000 Euros into their Netherlands-based subsidiary, Bajaj Auto International Holdings BV, to assist in support of the KTM-Bajaj Autos JV operations. https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/bajaj-auto-invests-rs-1364-crore-in-bankruptcy-bound-ktm-465528-2025-02-21 One of KTM's dead-loss exercises in recent times, was to buy a family-owned foundry in Sept 2024, that did a lot of castings for KTM. The foundry purchase was almost immediately followed by Pierer AG going into administration. The Vöck­la­bru­cker Metall­gie­ßerei GmbH foundry had been operating successfully for 70 years, and was set to celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025. KTM was preparing to sack all 134 employees of the foundry, when it was saved at the last minute by being purchased as a going concern by another family-owned Austrian foundry, Mettec Guss Metallgießerei und Formenbau GmbH. https://www.rideapart.com/features/746071/ktm-powersports-ties-motorcycle-industry/#:~:text=KTM AG is the motorcycle,undergoing self-administered restructuring efforts. https://au.motorsport.com/motogp/news/pierer-industrie-ag-avoids-insolvency-decision-on-ktm-imminent/10697462/ https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/family-metal-foundry-saves-a-business-the-ktm-insolvency-nearly-killed/ar-AA1zw6iK?ocid=finance-verthp-feeds

OME may have confused Kingsford Smiths Southern Cross aircraft with the Southern Cloud, which was a historic aircraft that crashed in the Snowy Mountains in 1931 with no survivors, and the wreckage was not found until 1958, when it was discovered by chance by a Snowy Mountains Scheme worker. The Southern Cloud was an Avro 618 Ten, a licence-built Fokker, built in the U.K. by Avro Aircraft, which company was founded by A.V. Roe. Amazingly, one passenger (Stan Baker) who planned to fly on the Southern Cloud, cancelled his booking at the last moment and travelled by train. When he learnt of the disappearance of the Southern Cloud, he developed a life-long fear of flying. However, he finally gave in to his fear and boarded the Amana, an ANA DC-4 that left Perth on 26th June 1950. Incredibly, the Amana crashed in the Darling Ranges just East of Perth, only 22 mins after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all 29 on board. The crash of the Amana was the worst civilian air crash in Australia to that time, and there were no firm conclusions as to the cause of the crash, but corrosion was found in the fuel systems of the aircraft and water in the fuel supplied was slated as the cause of the crash. However, it could never be determined as to how the water got into the fuel supplied.

Those brick and mortar patterns are so easy to install on paving or roadways. They simply spray the surface initially with the "mortar" colour, then they lay down a "bricks-and-mortar" patterned outline stencil, made from a disposable material that looks like heavy paper (I'm not sure of the exact material used). They then spray the contrasting brick-colour material (a heavy paint, often with some type of grit in it), using a hopper gun, onto the surface - then they simply lift the stencil and throw it away, leaving a neat-looking, false brickwork pattern. https://prestigepatternpaving.com.au/spray.htm

I can advise this much, re commercial flights. If I was going to fly international any time soon (and I'm not, I did a lot of it around 10-15 years ago and I'm not inclined to visit a lot of countries today, due to massive upheavals in the intervening period), I wouldn't hesitate to travel with Qatar AIrways again, and especially in their B777 in business class - because they rate as superb for customer service, IMO. In addition, Virgin have now entered into a code-share agreement with Qatar Airways, and that now makes it even easier to travel internationally to and from Australia.

I'm convinced GON must spend all his time getting his information and politics from SKY News. The lack of logic in tying crashes of cars and trucks into shopfronts, and hit-and-run drivers fleeing the scene, to Left Wing politics, is indicative of someone who is simplistic as Trump, and unable to come to logical conclusions. The reasons cars and trucks crash into shopfronts can be directly attributed to a lack of driving skills, which all State road traffic authorities try to address with better driver education, increasing driver regulation, penalties for road traffic law infringements, and generally bad driving skills. By far the biggest reasons for vehicle crashes are inattention, carelessness, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a lack of driving experience, and outright excessive aggressiveness behind the wheel. There's also a small percentage of crashes caused by medical events (seizures, heart attacks, strokes, mental confusion related to aging). Politics don't even come into this scenario. As to hit-and-run crashes, nothing has changed since the motor car was invented. A dumb driver hits a pedestrian or another car, realises they're in deep sh** because they're drunk, drugged or driving a stolen car - so they do what all dumb criminals do, they run away, in their firm belief that they won't get caught! Once again, politics has nothing to do with hit-and-runs, this comes back to a lack of good parental education, and good peer education, thinking they can get away with criminal acts. Of course, if you're a SKY News watcher, then the SKY News logic is that the sole cause of cars and trucks crashing into shopfronts, is because all those Left Wingers in control of our Nation have let in millions of useless immigrants who obviously can't drive - and the SKY News solution is to deport them all! Woo-Hoo, the Trump solution will stop all car crashes and hit-and-runs, at their source!!

A Devaux, hand built in Australia by one David Clash, and designed along the lines of classis 1930's European/French sportscar styling. I can't find out if they are still being made, but their website is still up. When available in the early 2000's they came with a Jaguar 6 inline engine or a GM 5.7L V8, and cost around $200,000. I have never seen one on the road, or on display anywhere. The few built, possibly reside in millionaire collectors garages. The man has great taste and style, and nothing is surer than the fact that the Art Deco era produced some of the most beautiful vehicles ever built. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devaux_Coupe