Jerry_Atrick

Bought new tyres last week and have already got a leak - ran over a bloomin' screw and it lidged well into the tyre. Bloody thing!

Well, ol' Molly looks like the novelty has worn off

My ride on is in the shop getting its service, a new alternator and a microswitch.. just out of warranty, too

Nope.. The worlds press has lost interest as theres a war in the Middle East and Trump has gone batpoop crazy... Oh, and the Republicans, who when I was a kid swore they would rather be dead than red, are now rather liking the idea of being red. I guess that is, after all, the colour of the republicans.

Ill be right, jack.. we have oil.. no gas.. but we are entering spring.. so since poms allegedly don't have showers, don't need gas for 6 months..

My son loves diving and is coming back to Aus with us,. I have explained ot him that he needs to make sure he doesnt turn into shark ship.

While the press focus on equities in terms of how the economy is going, the real bellweather is the bond markets. These were surprisingly robust over the last couple of days. As most algorithms will head to US Treausry bonds (USTs) as a safe haven, as the stock market came crashing down, the USTs yields came down, which means the prices went up. This is because USTs are considered risk free. However, the credit bond markets, which are bonds made to companies, also was suprisingly robust on Thursday after the announcements. There are three classifications of creit bonds - financial institutions, investment grade corporates and non-investment grade corporates - or junk bonds. The difference between investment grade and "junk" is that investment grade are usually BBB- and up in the Moodys ratings. Junk can have ratings or be non-rated. It is important to note it is normally the credit quality of the bond itself, and not the issuer, that is important. Anyway, the junk bond market sell off started in the US yesterday, and this is because there are fears of recessions. Some of these are fairly string companies, such as US Steel and Dole Foods. The spreads (between the offer and bid price that market markers provide) is the highest in 17 months. At the moment, the markets are saying to Trump, "this dont look too good" If a US Treasury inversion comes, where the 2 year yield curve is higher than the 10 year yield curve, then its run for the hills time.

Theres no shortage of crooks in most games. These days you get jailed for it: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/stuart-bayes-sentenced-insider-dealing (if you get caught).

Be careful posting that stuff, @Marty_d, son likes diving and snorkelling and he has already suggested us move there.

In general, yes.. The trick is what is the right level? Just remember this adage from Warren Buffet: "When the markets get greedy, I get fearful; when the markets get fearful, I get greedy."

This preoccupation with poms not taking a shower (or bathing) is a bit of a furphy. They want you to think that so they can skimp on providing you bathroom facilities in hotels.

It wasn't when I posted it am I am buggered if I can remember what it was

Blimey! What has happened to yhe Dingo Dollar? It's howling, certainly not growling. Last time I looked, it was $1.92 to the £.. now $2.07! I don't mind it going lower when I move out, but would want a reverse very quickly

Or a knighthood.. Lady Spacey does have a ring to it

Looks like Elons days at Doge are numbered. Despite pouring $25m into campaigning for a Republican judge, every County in Wisconsin swung to the Democrats and against the polls, a democratic judge won. Small win, but a signal was sent the midterms can't be counted on. Trump has apparently signalled Musk may fa e an early exit Elon Musk’s role in Trump administration under pressure after Wisconsin loss - https://on.ft.com/3FTdCL4 via @FT

Congrats, Spacey.. you've both achieved something very few even live to, let alone enjoy that long with the right one

For the UK, Hunan Rights Act 1994 and European Convention of Human Rights For Australia, it is not de nada, but it is what the courts are willing to interpret from the federal and state constitutions, and one such case is Dietrich v The Queen 1992, where the court found the constitution does confer the right to a fair trial (in that case, the Victorian government withheld legal aid where Dietrich was charged with a serious crime unless he pleaded guilty). In the Australian Capital Television case, the High Court held there was an implied right to be informed of policy due to the legal requirement to vote. And of course, the high court's creation of the doctrine of native title is if effect a recognition of first nations qualified rights in the case of disposession. But yes, Australia should have had a bill of Rights years ago.. I fear framing one these days would be rigged like the NACC.. And a bill of rights is only as good as the enforcement mechanisms is place and we can see at the moment when they are very much needed, they are fragile

Surely you were able to get it back?

It's not unique to the Englis at the moment.. Look st what happens in Australia to whistle-blowers or YouTubers who mount constant challenges to givernments or big corporates, while alleged war criminals walk free without trial despite the damning evidence. It may be a reason the lurch to the right is happening all over. The fact Dutton even has a look in speaks volumes

Cheaper than paying a fine to the electoral commission, I would think. I don't know your situation, but if you have a car, a 37 km each way trip will cost you say $40 (I would guess) in fuel and wear and tear. Even at $60 or $80, it would be cheaper than the fine. And assuming the roads are OK, it would be about an hour of your time. As I said, I don't know your situation, but if even postal voting is genuinely hard, or disproportionate in cost or time, then speak to the DRO (not derro); They can give you advice. But if your simply making a principled decision, then you're not at a disadvantage despite it being more inconvenient than someone living right next door to the post office. In that case, you are intentionally breaking the law.. and a fine will be coming your way. This is despite you being forced to live where you are - again I do not know your circumstances or, unless it was a prison, why you were forced to live there. By the way, there is something in the reasonableness test I don't like... It is a reasonable excuse if you don't vote on religious grounds. Surely, religious grounds are simply principles and one is making a principled decision not to vote - which is not a reasonable ground..

Jeepers.. ex AFL players have been dropping like flies, lately...

It is not a head in the sand approach.. .Just because one doesn't wear a provocative T Shirt does not mean their head is in the sand.. It means one isn't going to be a disrespectful dickhead, basically (well, in they way you were suggesting it). I am sure if people engaged Marty in discussion, he would not shy away... and not just agree with everything they said to keep his head in the sand.