Jerry_Atrick

Yes.. all powered aicraft (maybe except paramotors) are G reg It covers microlights and ultralights

Only when it was convenient

I forgot to mention in the above.. He and two other private citizens, bit ex PMs as I recall from NZ, were the only two "private citizens" that were on the "podium". It was clearly only for those who have had political office and therefore, it should have been even more apparent that the capacity he was there was in his legacy of forging relationships with China as a political leader, and out our (or your, as I only pay a little Aussie tax) expense. So, it is a furphy to say he was there purely as a private citizen.

Ther is a fallacy in the "you all buy Chinese..." argument. It is the same argment that ecowarriors use vehicles that produce carbon, therefore they are hypocrites. In reality, there are few items you buy where you have a real choice of buying anything other than Chinese. Want an Apple computer - Chinese. Want a Tesla outside the US? Chinese.. So even when you are not buying a Chinese brand, chances are you are buying Chinese made. Often these days, your local retailer wont supply widget x that is not Chinese as they (not you) make the decision on their margins, etc. Also, there is a difference between acting tough and not endorsing something. By not sending high level diplomats, ministers, or the PM, but lower diplomats, Albo was saying we will be there, but not endrose what you are doing. This is different to diplomatic or political gesticulation or rabble rousing or "getting tough". Sometimes, you have to put morals, integrity, and principles above short term gain.. It may be the case, but China isn't exaclty a fair economic player either. In fact, at least Chump largely lets you know where you stand. Don't drop tariffs against the US, yuou can be sure he will come a knocking with trying to retrict access to US markets. Remember when Scomo called on an inquiry as to how the COVID thing started? Xi didn't like that much at all.. Suddenly industries were hit with retaliatory restrictions to the Chinese market - and you can bet if they didn't need Aussie steel and other resources, China would have brought Australia to its economic knees.. All done quietly under quality or biosecurity risks, or similar. Dan Andrews did attend as a private citizen, but also as an ex-political leader - albeit only a premier. And all leaders know that they have a legacy to that role even when they are no longer in it. Andrews is not stupid, and would know that, too. If Malcolm Turnbull or Scott Morrisson attended, you would be OK with that, too?

(from the Financial Times)

Reading that artivle, South Korea were miffed, but Hyundai said they would cooperate and conduct a full investigation to ensure compliance with the regulations. Yeah, the South Korean government were alarmed at the potential treatment, but when you have a lot of people on plant that are foreign workers, you sort of have to check all of them. The hand cuffs and plastic ties are standard ops in the US as they believe their Holywood productions are real. I remember news clips of equivalent raids in Melbourne, albeit on a much smaller scale as they usually involved Chinese/Indian restaurants. But all staff were detained while visas were checked. I guess it is inconsistent to want to control immigration, but to let it slide for large companies. The law should be applied equally and if they are applying and following the law and due process, then we should be satisfied with it. Of course the problem has been there is a culture of just dragging in workers without a visa and theyt tend to overstay the 90 day limit. When I worked (and sort of lived) in the US, I made sure I was in the UK for at least 2 different weeks every 90 days... In that case, it was legit. I was doing consutling (and some sales) work for the company that employed me in the US for their clients, while permanently employed in their UK branch (they were a US company). But, it is too easy to just say, "er, O will stay a bit longer", and the next thing you have been there for years.

Hmmm.. If he starts WW3? It's a good question. Because, for all his bluster, everything he is doing to destabilise things is largely local. Question: Chump's America of ShittingPin's China? Sadly, Europe (EU mainly) has once again shown itself to be the soft-bellied coward it is.

Buggah

4

The review continues, in the meantime.we place ourselves as less capable to defend ourselves in the face of potential increasing aggression: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-06/china-aukus-united-states-xi-jinping/105720442

And the z: demoncrazy

Drastic

My first reaction to the Hungarian Conservative, given Orban is the Prime Minister is to check the references and stats, but given Orban is another self-stylised Chump, anything official coming from Hungary would be hard to trust. In Chump's first term, he claimed the Swede's (I think - may have been the Swiss) crime rates had jumped massively since the mass migration at the time that Merkel allowed 1m into Germany. I did a bit of diggin anc Chump referenced the increase reported over 5 years, not the 1 year after the mass immigration. If you looked at the numbers, the rat poer capita of the sexual and violent offences actually dropped in that year which could mean that the rate of crime imported was far lower than that already in the country. Of course, the terrorist acts in Europe are normally committed by those who subscrube ti Islam, but like the dafe in Sydney, many are lone wolves, not affiliatted with an organisation, but are deranged and align themselves with the worst bits. Yes, Iran was recently on Aussie soil at least orchestrating or organising recent attacks. But, surely, there is a common ground to be found rather than the toxicity of I am all good and you are all bad...

Blimey.. the world is getting very toxic at the moment. I have no idea why, but my Youtube feed is full of creators who are either Islamophobic or Islamophiles. I rarely click on them (when I do, it is usually because of fat finger disease on the tablet and I immediately shut down the video), so I am not sure why the algorithm continually dishes them up to me. But, if the thumbnail is anything to go by, the west is about to get taken over by Sharia law, or Islam is the bastion of peace and tranquility. I mostly watch Aussie Rules and Aussie politics, with a bit of US politics, maths, programming, finance, and music. Hardly ever click on UK politics.

My parnter is in mourning - she trained as a fashion designer and spent the formative career years in fashion. Her opinion is the Italian designers are generallly the best.. Although she is looking forward to the exhibition they will no doubt put on in his memory.

Gary Stevenson is a prodigal son. What the article didn't say about him is that he started his teenage years heading down the wrong path and had some skirmishes with the law. I don't think he was ever convicted of anything much. Someone (I am not sure who) relaised he has a maths brain and straghtened the ship, so tp spealk. A couple of years before Covid, one of the derivatives desk would mark (value) deals they later found out to be struck by him to zero as they knew they were going to lose on it. Then they would try and sell it off at a discount to par to get something back. If the counterparty was Citi, you were always very wary (he is not the only one like this,; he just chose a different path to constant enrichment). It is the others that are piling in the money to keep the status quo. Although he is on a crusade, in the same way Punter Politics on you tube his (he is an ex teacher), he is little more than an annoyance. The press here mostly dismiss him; there is another money man they promote who is all about the average person getting more out of the system, but he is about tinkering at the edges as opposed to Gary, who is about fundamental change. Punter Politics is causing a stir, though, as he uses his YouToob money and donations to put up faily poignant billboards on how the wealthy and multinationals are ripping off the system. He frequently compares us to Qatar and Norway, where they tax their gas exports properly and have a wealtheier society by far. Still, democracy has its flaws; some deep as power corrupts (but absolute power absolutely corrupts). I can't think of anything better. Chump 2 was always going to be a blood bath. His view was a) I can never run again, but b) I'll have a good go at it or setting up a dynasty to beat a technicality of the constitution. What amazes me is that a lot of information is at ones' fingertips.. yes we all tend to congregate our sources to our echo chambers, but it is not hard to look up different perspectives. We are just too lazy, or ofull of inertia, so I guess we deserve what we get.

Well, Dan has issued a statement of defence of his actions: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-04/daniel-andrews-releases-china-photo-statement/105736700 In that, he has said, ""I've said for years that a constructive relationship with China — our largest trading partner — is in Australia's national interest and hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depend on it," he said." Maybe, that facilitation of those sorts of relationships is the preservice of governments, not provate consultants, and the photo doesn't seem to have any other business people and the only two ex pollies or officials in the photo, ironically, were former NZ prime ministers, John Key and Helen Clark, both of whom seem to be coming under pressure over there. Also, Dan Andrews is not the only consultant (aka introducer) to Chinese commerice. What makes it so special that he decides to take the photo opp, as opposed to a plethora of the vermin. I couldn't find a consolidated list, but here is a snipper: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2024/03/22/another-twist-in-the-china-lobbying-backlash-00148670 Bob Carr also went there, but managed to avoid the photo opp. But the best quote from the ABC article, was, ""My position is very, very clear, which is we did not send any government representative because it would not have been appropriate," he [Albanese] told parliament." That came from the person who's ultimately responsible for ensuring the constructive relationship with China, guarding Australia's interests, and ensuring he several hundred thousand jobs that depend on it. Last time I looked, Daniel Andrews was never in that capacity, let alone no longer in that capacity. I have no doubt that he thought this was a photo opp. But, given his political background and his political prowess, he would have known the potential backlash he found himself in. Even if he weren't told who was attending, a knucklehead would have worked it out. In one of the most rarest encounters, I actually agree with Angus Taylor - and I never thought I would ever, ever, be in that position - maybe I need a disinfectant bath: "Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor told 2CC Mr Andrews needed to "decide whether he's Australian or not"." I am sure Mr Taylor used more colourful language to refer to "Mr. Andrews".

Is he taking a job at CASA?

This week, I sort of did a bad thing at work. I am a bit bored of what I do, which is "senior" management as it is mostly admin and yappin'. So, when an oppotunity came up for someone to whip up a quick prototype, I decided I would do it. Took me about two days, but I came clean to my managing director I did it. She was non-plussed and reminded me to give up all the more interesting stuff I do and focus on mangement. I agreed, and suddenly thought, I don't know how to manage. I know how to lead, set out a vision, put together the teams and put people on the path to delivery, but management so far eludes me. Time to find something else, me thinks!

In the UK, the CAA is responsible for all licencing, including the NPPL (which is similar, I guess to the RAAus licences/certificates). It does delegate the ability to manage and in a limitied form regulate licennsing to the various representative bodies (LAA for the LSA type stuff, BMA for microlights, and BGA for gliding). It has some advantages such as the samle level of access to contolled airspace as PPLs, radio telephony is allowed, etc. Of course, it may require a but more training up front, but the medical requirements and training are less than that of a PPL. Also, the hours flown are directly creditable to a PPL. For a lot of people that move to PPL, it is a medical and a fee - that is it. In addition, although not ICAO, these NPPLs can be used in LSAs in most other European countries and I think the USA and CAN without any furhter admin forms, etc. So, in and of itself, it is not a bad thing. Of course, there are down sides. For example, I think the hours required and the theory is probably more than the RAAus ticket. And the medical requirements may be higher. However, it largely works OK as the local representative bodies administer them, authorise examiners, etc, and can regulate above the minimum requirements if they deem it appropriate. Also, all air crashes that involve airframe wrte off or death are investigated by the AAIB regardless of registration. And the registration is G-, just like GA. Of course, it is considered by many here as well administered (at least last time I looked.. which I haven't for a few years now - @Red may have a different view). When I came ot the UK, I thought the UK CAA were eminently more pragmatic than CASA in the application of rules, but people here complained about them, and yeah, there were some things they were not great at. But there is a GA specialist unit now in the CAA (or was) and that covered all light aircraft (so a little of a misnomer). The question is will you get anything better or worse under CASA?

Yes, no doubt business interests are involved. Most people at that level don't do this without some vested interest. But there is a difference between attending an event and getting supplimentary photo ops than participating in a school photo as one of the members of the class. Additionally, although I guess his target market is large corporations, which tend to be devoid of morals and don't care as long as they get the money they want. But, these days, reputational damage can be a factor that may make large corporations wary of engaging someone, whom if it was foundout was providing services, may negatively impact demand from that corporation. So, there is a chance, albeit small, it may well backfire somewhat.

As a private person, he can do what he likes within the law. However, the photo op doesn't have any other business leaders as far as I can tell, and while Andrews may have some business, he is hardly classed as a business leader. I have defended Andrews time in his premiership, except for the attempt to sign Vic tup to Belt and Braces or whatever it was. I could see why he wanted to do it, although it was kicking the can down the road, and IMHO, taking Australia down a dangerous path. Despite the hysteria around the debt legacy, a competent government can manage it, and could have capitalised from the economic advantages it presented. But from all I have read so far, this is nothing short of a sell out - of principles. Either that, or he is our Chump - willing to sell his grandmother for a few Remnimbi/Yuan. He is effectviely endorsing a repressive, oppressive, and at this point in time, aggressive regime. The deaths in Tianemen (sp?) square, the Uighurs - where the persecution, forced detainlment, and according to Genocide Watch, a continual genocide is in play (https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/chinese-genocide-of-uyghurs-in-xinjiang-continues) is effectively being endorsed. Not to mention that Chinese version of defenestration and their political prisoners/deaths, etc. At an alleged veiled statement effectively saying it will take Taiwan by force. Imagine the backlash if another country said something along those lines. And co-mingling with world despots for a photo op.. Sort of says it all to me. Australia sent some low level diplomat as the amdassador to China was.. not in China.. at the time. That is a good signal.. To me, he has shown his alliegence. And while I won't call it traitorous, it is treachery in nature. His Aussie citizenship should at least be called into question, if not revoked.

If you click through to read those sites, a) malware or worse; or b) ads; or c) scams

Hmm.. or it could be keeping your ear to the ground.. you know.. keep your friends close but your enemies closer Admittedly I doubt it..

This video is somewhat clickbait, but I am sure the caption is where it is all heading: I have visions of fellas having the romp of their life, then falling asleep never to wake again...