octave

Not bashing anyone, Marty. Just protesting about the flagrant disrespect for our national institutions by a tiny minority of people we welcomed here; people who want to replace our legal system with the one which helped turn their homelands into such a mess that they came here to live...

Perhaps we should quantify this small number of people in order the intelligently and rationally gage the magnitude of this problem. Perhaps we should direct our anger at these specific people rather than a group of whom the majority are good law abiding citizens.

To put it another way what percentage of a group must exhibit a particular negative behaviour before we can generalize. Is the percentage of Muslins who refuse to stand in court or show face a greater or lesser thane the percentage of men who rape women? Can we make generalizations about men? I know it may be tiresome but I make my judgements an individuals behaviour.

As usual, I call anyone out who does not supply evidence for their assertion.

I don't have a problem about who does what with who. I just cannot understand why we have to be told about it.A couple of days ago the ABC was extatic about the first openly gay female member of parliament. Who cares?

Are you saying we should not be told about that?

My sister spent years not able to discuss her relationship lest she be accused of forcing it on those around her. All she wanted was the right to talk about her partner in exactly the way her colleagues did, that's all.

Since it is now justifiably ridiculous to be blatantly anti-gay we have moved to a situation where those who are uncomfortable about it have now moved to a position of saying it is ok but I shouldn't have to know about it. Yenn if it doesn't bother you, why does a news story about a gay politician seem to bother you?

Not enough water in the Torrens to drown someone ?.

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Well I agree with the conservatives about nuclear power. We in Australia should have the cheapest power in the world. Instead we have the most expensive. I blame the "safety" and green lots for this.But you will get no argument from me about the need to protect people like homo's and unionists. I do reckon though that homo's are better protected now than they were 50 years ago. I remember a lecturer called Duncan who was thrown into the Torrens by the Vice squad of the day. Duncan drowned and the vice squad got off. This whole thing would not happen today, thank goodness.

It was George Duncan. Growing up in Adelaide this was one of my early memories. He was murdered in 1972 when I was 10. Murder of George Duncan - Wikipedia

I simply don't understand why some people are so insecure that they have a problem with who has a relationship with who. Same-sex marriage has been deemed acceptable by the majority and is entirely legal. Anyone is entitled to express their inability to cope with reality but they must accept the criticism that they may attract.

Reading what Sam Clench said I wonder how the religious books and preachers can get away with their outpourings. It was words from the Bible that caused all this furore, but nobody seems to be saying that the bible should be banned, just that Israel Folau should not quote it.

An employer sought to enforce their interpretation of a contract with an employee. This will be tested in court The employee concerned was warned several times and knew the conditions of his contract Many jobs come with an obligation not to embarrass their employer. That is the long and short of it. I as someone who works with children would probably lose my job if my public utterances were considered to have a negative effect on my employers reputation. If this is unacceptable to me then I would consider earning my living in a different way.

People who are unhappy with this situation need to consider two issues. The first issue is whether or not the interpretation of the contract is legal. This can only really judged by a court and will be unless there is an out of court settlement. Secondly does an employer have the right to expect their employee to adhere to a code of conduct? My first job was in the RAAF. I knew when I signed up that I was expected not to embarrass my employer or speak to the media etc. If I had wanted to go to an anti-war protest I would have had to choose between this and my job.

This fellow was not denied free speech, he said his piece.

Yes, the younger generation is wealthier, but does it enjoy a stress-free lifestyle? I think that's where the Australian lifestyle we enjoyed in our youth has gone. It seems to me that our young people are intent on scrambling over each other to make loads of money, which they use to gratify themselves immediately. Ask those youngsters you know when was the last time they made up a picnic of sandwiches, small tasties and the makings of a hot drink and went out to relax in the open air. They'll probably tell you that they would prefer to spend the day at a cafe with a view, eating and drinking nouveau cuisine or its current equivalent.

I know that we bemoan the lack of employment in traditional occupations, but these youngsters are creating new occupations. Although my thought is that these new occupations seem to concentrate on ways to separate others of their generation from their money.

I think young people are as diverse as our age group. I think some in our age group are obsessed with money. I have just moved to early semi-retirement but I do have some friends who believe they can't do the same because they feel they need the cram more money into their super.

I keep in contact with many of my ex-music students and it seems that may not picnic as much but they do travel and not just to the obvious tourist spots. I am following on FB the trip of a young woman I used to teach as she travels through Costa Rica and other interesting places that I would not have dreamed of visiting when I was her age. Not all young people are sitting in cafes with a plate of smashed avo.

I am thankful (and maybe a little jealous) that my son does not earn his living from a tradition occupation.

As it is I am old, white and nostalgic for the good old days of Australia.

When were the good old days? Luckily for me, the best days are now.

Those ten commandments say to me that the God is rather insecure, maybe has an inferiority complex.As far as Israel Folau is concerned the question is, did he breach his contract? That of course is what he wants money for. He should know wether or not he has breached it and the fact that he wants others to fund a court case makes it look as if he cannot prove he didn't.

 

Apart from the legal side of the argument, the whole thing is farcical, If you believe what Christianity preaches, you will no doubt agree with Israel, but if you don't believe, then you think he is talking bull****.

 

I really cannot see that anyone can be really worried by what he says, any more than I believe religiouns should be able to say anything they like without being held accountable, here I am thinking of all religiouns.

 

We are heading into more political correctness with this. It seems to be getting to the point where to criticise those who practice different styles of swxuality is completely off limits. I still reckon gay marriage is stupid and I wonder why we have to be mindfull of the feelings of all the alphabet of sexuality we keep hearing about. I don't even know what the current version is nor do I know what some of the letters stand for. For example is Q?

Freedom of speech allows you to say pretty much whatever you want but does not imply the right for that speech to go uncriticized or does not necessarily protect you from the consequences of that speech. This guy said his piece and his employer chose to enforce their contract. This is not unusual. I spent 12 years in the military and it was made quite clear to me that I was subject to 2 laws civil and military. The rest of my working life has been as a musician and music teacher. In this role, I have to be conscious that my public statements must be measured. As an atheist, I could quite easily say to one of my younger students who are religious that I regard their beliefs as being foolish. I wouldn't do this because I understand the terms of my employment but more importantly, I do not wish to hurt anyone's feelings simply because they have a different world view to me.

In terms of gay marriage, I just don't understand why it is such an issue. I have many friends who are married or otherwise paired but I don't really feel it is any of my business to publicly critique other peoples relationship. Not only do I not feel it is my place but I actually feel like to do so is unsophisticated shows a lack of experience with different members of our society. My sister is 60 years old and has been in a same-sex relationship for many years. Although I don't think she intends to get married I would not regard it as "stupid" When you say "why we have to be mindful of the feelings" I would argue you are pretty much legally free to say almost anything however this does mean you can't be criticized. I don't think you do have to be mindful of others feelings in a legal sense but in an ethical sense why would you want to hurt someone's feelings?

If this guy is to be protected by his religion would this apply to all religions? This guy will no doubt have his day in court and it will be determined whether the contract was breached or not.

Interesting video on direct air capture technology

The coal in Britain is all imported.All mining workers are trained overseas.

 

spacesailor

Britain has massively reduced its dependence on coal.

Coal consumption 1970-2017 | UK Statistic

Modern money is only a promissory note from people you wouldn't trust in a fit. they can just print more of it any time they choose to and that dilutes everything of value. Nev

But really we do trust it to in a day to day way, at least I am reasonably certain that I will be paid for my labour today and that I can buy shiraz with it. Even a gold standard is based on a promise that the gold exists unless we start exchanging actual gold. Whilst it is, of course, true that printing money or quantitative easing can be inflationary we have been in a long period of low inflation for some time now.

For many reasons a return to a gold or a silver standard is unlikely.

By the way, this is an issue about which I have very little opinion.

Fun fact - it is estimated that all the mined gold in the world would make a cube of just 20 metres.

A brave statement, Octave (In the Yes Minister sense of those words...)Gold has always been a favourite store of value and many nations are spending precious money building up their gold reserves ready for the next reset, which is likely to bring in a gold-backed Cryptocurrency.

 

Russia (and possible also China )are working on it as we speak.

 

Very likely, a bit like in Kevin Costner's Water World.

What I enjoy about this forum is the wide range of topics I end up reading about that I would otherwise not.

I have just been reading about the gold standard and why the world has moved away from it. I know some think we should return to it. I have no opinion on that but I do note there are many disadvantages to the gold standard as well as advantages.

Gold standard - Wikipedia

Gold standard - Wikipedia

We're just in a transition period. Some places still have a minimum amount for eftpos ($5 for example) yet I tried to pay cash for a $3.50 coffee in Brisbane the other day to be told they don't accept cash.Part of the problem is that shops are charged a fortune for the tap 'n' go card readers. Banks of course reap the benefits.

I use a credit card which I then pay from my bank account every Friday so don't get hit with interest but a $50 a year fee. Makes budgeting easy though, no financial secrets in my house (except for the few students that pay me in cash shhh dont tell!)

I visit NZ once or twice a year and it seems to be a little further ahead with moving away from cash although I noticed last time that some smaller places did not have pay wave so I had to insert and try to remember my PIN.

Whilst in NZ I did go to this weird sculpture park where there was no one in attendance and you paid the entry fee at an honesty box for cash but there was also an honesty efpos machine and instructions on how to pay your entry fee, very strange

look at the 9x table. If things have a price ending in 9, then you have to buy 6,7,8,or 9 units to get the advantage of rounding down.

For the buyer the rounding on any purchase is minuscule. There is little you can buy now for 1 or 2 cents, I would even suggest that 5 cent pieces are pretty useless. These days 5 cents would be equivalent to a 2 cents piece x number of years ago (x because I have looked at the devaluation through inflation)

As far as the cashless society, I have can only think of one occasion when I needed cash and that was at a restaurant (probably dodging tax). I imagine carting money around is costly and inefficient, although of course electronic transactions also have a cost. I recall my first job was in the RAAF and pay Thursday an armoured van would deliver the cash to the base pay section then a couple of armed guards would bring to our section where the duty Sgt and Cpl would count it out then pay everyone, took ages.

Gold is only valuable because we say it is, there is some but not much value other than the value we assign to it. I can imagine a future where clean drinking water is a currency.

These days I seldom use cash even for small purchases. I imagine physical money will disappear in the not too distant future.

In an American store, if something is priced at $4.99 and you give over a $5 bill, you get change. Not like here where any price, or total of purchases is between (tens) + 6 to (tens) + 9 the cost is rounded UP to the next (ten) and you get no change. Can you imagine how much the supermarket chains make out of that little trick?

I have often pondered when putting fuel in my car whether anyone puts let's say $78.03 in order to take advantage of the rounding down.

The change to EVs will, of course, have some challenges but smart businesses will innovate to attract more customers. This is a Woolworths supermarket in Melbourne.

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Then there is the US reluctance to the remove low denomination coins as just about every other country has done.

Let's not be too hard on them. American scientists have been using metric for generations and I believe their military do also.

Apparently, the US does use metric, it is just that the average person doesn't NASA moved to metric for most things in the 90s. Medicine and engineering also tend to use metric. NASA uses metric but then converts when reporting to the press or public.

Ultra-conservatives say the darndest things

I actually had to check that this was not satirical.

Tucker Carlson: "Almost every nation on Earth has fallen under the yoke of tyranny -- the metric system"

the chosen replacement culture ,. . .are exempt from all this security Bollox of course,. . It's only us White indiginous folk who have to put up with it . . .until the Civil war of course,. .when Whitey has had enough of being a second class citizen in his own Country. . .. . .then things will Alter.. . .Very quickly and, regrettably. . .very violently. It now seems the only possible outcome. . ..

Why is it that you feel you are a second class citizen? Can you give examples of how you are a second class citizen? You and I live in the two of the wealthiest and safest countries in the world. We do not have to wonder if we can eat tomorrow. We live at a time when we are the least likely to meet a violent death. Our life expectancy has never been higher. Why is it that I feel secure, happy and fulfilled and safe and you feel that your life is so bad that some kind of armed conflict is likely in order to restore your lost rights?

And I vehemently disagree with you having been there Multliple times and seen the opposite story. One well documented sob story video, no matter how well edited does not change the facts on the ground octave,. . and I am surprised and disappointed that an outwardly intelligent man would believe that to be the case. . . The World Media is Filled with cases like the one you highlight, to feed their narrative, and yet rarely venture into the fray to back up nor Fact Check their stories nor tell things the way that they actually are.on a day to day basis ON SITE..

Most of what I have actually seen in Israel and Gaza on the ground over the last seven years, bears no relation to what you have posted. You are believing #Fake news,. . the thing you say that you hate. Just like the Fake news in Syria manufactured by the White Helmets moviemaking and proven terrorist group.

 

Get real or don't bother mate.

 

( No offence intended )

Phil, I will answer this later in detail. For the moment can I just say that no I am not offended although what you have said is certainly a personal attack. I am always very careful to debate ideas and not the people who hold those views.

I think the most strident thing I have said is that "however the state of Israel was created there is now fault on both sides". I assuming you feel this is false and that the fault is only on the Palestinian side.

Get real or don't bother mate.

Phil if you feel my postings are substandard, lack balance or are poorly researched then please feel free to put me on "ignore" This option is available to anyone on this forum.

How do YOU think that they ought to react ?

How would you react if someone took your house?

These issues are complicated. If you believe one side is good and one side is evil then I think you are incorrect.

If climate change is really happening, the price of food will be going up. ( Actually I reckon it is )Luckily for deniers, there are lots of other things to blame : The politicians, the Chinese, the environmentalists, excessive regulation, not enough regulation, and the local council. Other blameworthy lots can be added if you like.

I think a fundamental problem is that we have not evolved to notice long term changes. Our brains are good at identifying imminent threats but they are quite bad at noticing slow changes. Back in the day the hearing cracking sound of the branch we were sitting on or seeing the vague shape of a dangerous animal and we would act immediately. We now can measure small but significant changes in the composition of the atmosphere or changes in average temperature or even our own health. We know that certain diets or behaviours can cause us long term negative effects but still, a large proportion of society has a lot of trouble modifying their behaviour in order to avert future illness or early death.

The problem can be summed up as "we have an old brain which is not ideally suited to a new world".

The good news though is our new brain, if we use it wisely means we can measure things and we can extrapolate data to give us some idea of future consequences. We can take control of problems and innovate solutions. Many people can and do adopt healthier lifestyles. Some obese people do lose weight. Fewer people smoke now.

WELLI think if it's losing, A couple of cubic kilometres of Hydrogen & Helium,, compererd to a couple of cubit kilometres of space-dirt (shooting star-dust, it would be a BIG exchange,!.

 

spacesailor

You should pass on your high quality research to NASA although you may have to show your workings out!l