AHA! All is explained. When Tony Abbott says "No new taxes" ... "No cuts to ABC or SBS". "No surprises" etc. -
What us stupid Aussies failed to see was the invisible comma , that bit .... heh.
What he REALLY meant was ...
"No, new taxes". "No, cuts to ABC and SBS". "No, changes to pensions". "No, surprises".
Bit like Tony Abbott's invisible god, i guess.
god, and Tony Abbott, apparently work in mysterious ways - just (another three word slogan) 'Trust and Believe'.
ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY INVISIBLE COMMA
Showing posts with label defence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label defence. Show all posts
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
fantasy aircraft (2) [further updated 27th May, 2014]
http://wombatswaffles.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/whats-billion.html
OK, am not going to let this fiasco pass un-noticed. Watch the video.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/02/18/3690317.htm
Note that Kerry O'Brien mentions that John Howard signed
" .. a secret deal" with Lockheed Martin.
Forget all the "hype" and crap. Will try to find more facts and details about this "secret deal".
[update]
Ok, here is more information regarding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
http://ausairpower.net/jsf.html
It's from the website of Air Power Australia - billed as "Australia's Independent Defense Think Tank".
Reading the detailed analysis of a considerable number of current and future aircraft will take some time, and am reluctant to add my personal thoughts about the decision of the current Federal government to continue with the purchase of the F-35 ... but perhaps some actual facts from what appears to be a knowledgeable source (as distinct from 'hype' and 'hyperbole', 'lies' and 'spin') ... will explain my utter disgust with some aspects of the current Federal politicians.
[another update]
ABC Radio National program "Rear vision"
(Am now in contact with an investigative journalist to help find the details of how we got into this fiasco, and what, exactly, the initial "contract" details are - if possible).
(another update ... um, yes, sent an email to the "Editor-in Chief" of the "Guardian " - Australian 'online' edition .... but it seems that the "Editor in Chief" that i tried to begin conversation with - has been replaced.
The previous "Editor in chief" passed my request for an "in depth" investigation into the "Why" and circumstances behind the current Federal decision to allocate rather more AU$ billions into the F-35 fiasco -
than a few million to support AUSTRALIAN manufacturing (and 'jobs').
... to a 'wannabe' reporter for the Guardian - and yes; sue me for this comment.
OK, am not going to let this fiasco pass un-noticed. Watch the video.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/02/18/3690317.htm
Note that Kerry O'Brien mentions that John Howard signed
" .. a secret deal" with Lockheed Martin.
Forget all the "hype" and crap. Will try to find more facts and details about this "secret deal".
[update]
Ok, here is more information regarding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
http://ausairpower.net/jsf.html
It's from the website of Air Power Australia - billed as "Australia's Independent Defense Think Tank".
Reading the detailed analysis of a considerable number of current and future aircraft will take some time, and am reluctant to add my personal thoughts about the decision of the current Federal government to continue with the purchase of the F-35 ... but perhaps some actual facts from what appears to be a knowledgeable source (as distinct from 'hype' and 'hyperbole', 'lies' and 'spin') ... will explain my utter disgust with some aspects of the current Federal politicians.
[another update]
ABC Radio National program "Rear vision"
(Am now in contact with an investigative journalist to help find the details of how we got into this fiasco, and what, exactly, the initial "contract" details are - if possible).
(another update ... um, yes, sent an email to the "Editor-in Chief" of the "Guardian " - Australian 'online' edition .... but it seems that the "Editor in Chief" that i tried to begin conversation with - has been replaced.
The previous "Editor in chief" passed my request for an "in depth" investigation into the "Why" and circumstances behind the current Federal decision to allocate rather more AU$ billions into the F-35 fiasco -
than a few million to support AUSTRALIAN manufacturing (and 'jobs').
... to a 'wannabe' reporter for the Guardian - and yes; sue me for this comment.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
civil rescue
Interesting concept.
"voluntary" organisations.
Does anyone really know how much it costs?
Bushwalkers 'become lost', 'base jumpers' make an error of judgement,
Motor vehicle drivers drift on the highway.
Smoke and flames come through the bush.
Who ya gunna call?
"voluntary" organisations.
Does anyone really know how much it costs?
Bushwalkers 'become lost', 'base jumpers' make an error of judgement,
Motor vehicle drivers drift on the highway.
Smoke and flames come through the bush.
Who ya gunna call?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Run silent, run deep
All is very quiet, here in casa caravan since the problem with Greta Garbo next door (I vant to be left alooone).
Can't quite remember the exact sequence and details, but methinks the last straw was couple of Friday nights ago. Had been missing my chats with S, somehow ended up at the lower end of a cask of Port. Wandered next door to say hello .. again. Can't remember the exact conversation, this time, but happily went to bed at about 1am, toddled off to work at 5.30am on the Saturday, came home at 4.30pm.
Greta was standing at the corner of his annexe, arms akimbo, looking like Thor had just hit his thumbnail with the hammer. Half a dozen Valkeries hovering over his stocky shoulders.
"Oh", say I, all innocent, "What's up?"
"You!" he thunders. "Don't want to talk to you, don't want you near me!" With that, he turns and disappears into his annexe. Would have been a rather impressive and dramatic exit - if he was wearing a swirl from a dark wool, red lined, hooded cape.
Things went a bit quiet after that. Went off to work on Sunday and Monday. Was at the Laundry on the Tuesday waiting for the machine to do its thing when noticed the Park Manager wandering up and down the roadway talking on his mobile phone. Wanted to speak to him, so made sure that he saw me, then hung about until he'd finished. He eventually completed whatever conversation he was on, then came across.
"Gidday," say I, "has grumbleguts from the van next to me said anything yet?"
"Yep," says he, and was given a severe "talking to". He doesn't like you bothering him, your music - and Inebriation is a big No-No.
So, am still here .. but it's all socks and sneak time in the van. Not a sound shall emerge until I can figure out how to get out of here. And yes, of the quiet and stilly night; can hear every creak, sniff and snuffle from next door so don't blame him, really - even though I DID try to keep every sound down to a dull roar. Can't quite think what the music was that caused the upset. Mostly play Bach, Brahms and Mozart .. but it might have been the Rachmaninov.
Am running silent .. but that, in a way, is a bonus. Everything, now, is on Sony headphones and have discovered that I much prefer the full, rich bass and trebles of the digital TV instead of the tiny, tinpot speakers built in to the set .. heh.
Which reminds me. Have just found this
which seems vaguely appropriate.
[and yes, Hughes, will give much credit, though there's no point in coming at me with a cricket bat - used to be a wicket-keeper before those prissy helmets; skull of pre-stressed concrete .. heh. If the reader has yet to discover Scrag Ends, please go and have a squizz.]
Can't quite remember the exact sequence and details, but methinks the last straw was couple of Friday nights ago. Had been missing my chats with S, somehow ended up at the lower end of a cask of Port. Wandered next door to say hello .. again. Can't remember the exact conversation, this time, but happily went to bed at about 1am, toddled off to work at 5.30am on the Saturday, came home at 4.30pm.
Greta was standing at the corner of his annexe, arms akimbo, looking like Thor had just hit his thumbnail with the hammer. Half a dozen Valkeries hovering over his stocky shoulders.
"Oh", say I, all innocent, "What's up?"
"You!" he thunders. "Don't want to talk to you, don't want you near me!" With that, he turns and disappears into his annexe. Would have been a rather impressive and dramatic exit - if he was wearing a swirl from a dark wool, red lined, hooded cape.
Things went a bit quiet after that. Went off to work on Sunday and Monday. Was at the Laundry on the Tuesday waiting for the machine to do its thing when noticed the Park Manager wandering up and down the roadway talking on his mobile phone. Wanted to speak to him, so made sure that he saw me, then hung about until he'd finished. He eventually completed whatever conversation he was on, then came across.
"Gidday," say I, "has grumbleguts from the van next to me said anything yet?"
"Yep," says he, and was given a severe "talking to". He doesn't like you bothering him, your music - and Inebriation is a big No-No.
So, am still here .. but it's all socks and sneak time in the van. Not a sound shall emerge until I can figure out how to get out of here. And yes, of the quiet and stilly night; can hear every creak, sniff and snuffle from next door so don't blame him, really - even though I DID try to keep every sound down to a dull roar. Can't quite think what the music was that caused the upset. Mostly play Bach, Brahms and Mozart .. but it might have been the Rachmaninov.
Am running silent .. but that, in a way, is a bonus. Everything, now, is on Sony headphones and have discovered that I much prefer the full, rich bass and trebles of the digital TV instead of the tiny, tinpot speakers built in to the set .. heh.
Which reminds me. Have just found this
which seems vaguely appropriate.
[and yes, Hughes, will give much credit, though there's no point in coming at me with a cricket bat - used to be a wicket-keeper before those prissy helmets; skull of pre-stressed concrete .. heh. If the reader has yet to discover Scrag Ends, please go and have a squizz.]
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Indefensible?
Hadn't really intended to do much in the way of posts this week .. the puffy political punditry is in full swing elsewhere, and am certainly not sufficiently "informed" to make much in the way of comment. It's all bullshit* - mostly.
[*warning-video - relating to USA 2008, but just as applicable here ;).]
One of the things that bothers me, though, is that there are some issues that don't - or haven't yet - seemded to have been given much MSM airtime or critical analysis. One of those is "Defence" disasters.
There was a time the Howard mantra was "Who do you trust(?) to Defend Australia" which now seems to have been swamped by the Health and Education "bidding wars".
There is, of course, an enormous amount to be learnt about the monumental stuffups in the "Defence" Department during the HoWARd years .. and this story, from the ABC's Four corners program last Monday night, is but one of them.
Transcript here.
Video links here.
It seems that our GWB clone bypassed the "normal" tendering process, forgot to consult with the "Air Strategy" blokes in the Airforce, managed to do a "private deal" with Lockheed for some "kamikazi*" aircraft and WASTED 6 Billion Aussie dollars (that's six BILLION folks) and everyone is scratching around for some money for Health and Education??).
And for a rather more comprehensive and concisely written earlier account of the fiasco see here at New Matilda.
[Defence: Nelson's Toys
It's all quite disgusting, really, and makes me wonder if there isn't some sort of secret Swiss bank account set up by the Wanks at Boing Boing, just waiting for the "retirement" of John Winston H. (either that, or "OUR DEAR LEADER" JWH is completely bonkers).
At least the Navy had some sense, managed to break the yankee stranglehold over Howard govt thinking - and acquire a "real" Air Warfare destroyer instead of a fantasy American paper warship that would suck Aussie dollars into a black hole for as long as Aussies had grandchildren.
[*warning-video - relating to USA 2008, but just as applicable here ;).]
One of the things that bothers me, though, is that there are some issues that don't - or haven't yet - seemded to have been given much MSM airtime or critical analysis. One of those is "Defence" disasters.
There was a time the Howard mantra was "Who do you trust(?) to Defend Australia" which now seems to have been swamped by the Health and Education "bidding wars".
There is, of course, an enormous amount to be learnt about the monumental stuffups in the "Defence" Department during the HoWARd years .. and this story, from the ABC's Four corners program last Monday night, is but one of them.
Transcript here.
Video links here.
It seems that our GWB clone bypassed the "normal" tendering process, forgot to consult with the "Air Strategy" blokes in the Airforce, managed to do a "private deal" with Lockheed for some "kamikazi*" aircraft and WASTED 6 Billion Aussie dollars (that's six BILLION folks) and everyone is scratching around for some money for Health and Education??).
And for a rather more comprehensive and concisely written earlier account of the fiasco see here at New Matilda.
[Defence: Nelson's Toys
It's all quite disgusting, really, and makes me wonder if there isn't some sort of secret Swiss bank account set up by the Wanks at Boing Boing, just waiting for the "retirement" of John Winston H. (either that, or "OUR DEAR LEADER" JWH is completely bonkers).
At least the Navy had some sense, managed to break the yankee stranglehold over Howard govt thinking - and acquire a "real" Air Warfare destroyer instead of a fantasy American paper warship that would suck Aussie dollars into a black hole for as long as Aussies had grandchildren.
Techie sort of stuff about the SEA 4000 Program.* from transcript ..
[ANDREW FOWLER: Some of the Super Hornets will get through, but on their way home, the refuelling tankers will prove their Achilles heel.
WING COMMANDER CHRIS MILLS (RTD), DEFENCE AIR WARFARE STRATEGIST 2001-07 (in war room): If I can get the tanker and drop the tanker, I also get as a by-product the Super Hornets because on the way home those aircraft don’t have enough fuel for a diversion, they go into the water.
AIR VICE-MARSHAL PETER CRISS (RTD), AIR COMMANDER AUSTRALIA 1999-2000 (in war room): Yeah, this is the hurt point, you know ... ]
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