The totally off-topic thread

[love_the_life]

Port Noarlunga SA this week

Good grief, it looks like snow.
Floriade is closed again today due to the wet conditions and there has been a snow drop at Corin Forest which will be good for the school holidays.

 

[vetrade]

.............. But where else do you get info like this from? Wot is wrong wiv Kochie?

Well I spend from 5am - 7/8am nearly every morning cross checking overnight data - plus I use advanced software for analysis and have done for years. Then I sit in my office in front of a bank of screens for another 6 hours or so a day making guesses. Obviously such an approach wouldn't suit very many people but for me it is bliss compared to running businesses like I used to. It's great to go days at a time without having to put up with a single idiot.

As for Kochie et al, any information they can tell you has already been acted upon by the pros - that's why most people usually react after the opportunity has passed and spend their lives like hamsters in a wheel.

 

[vetrade]

Apparently submarines are going to be built in SA.

Hope that works out better than the debacle that the Collins Class subs turned out to be.............barely got them in the water because their computer systems didn't compute.
I suspect it will par for the course - just be another case of a blown budget and an underwhelming product.

 

[jukebox333]

Sooooo... it's the time of year here in Perth that white asparagus is in season.

Ever since a rather epic road trip across Germany at Easter in 2011, I've been trying to find out where to get fresh white asparagus.

Late last year, I finally discovered a farm in the Perth Hills that, for a few weeks a year, has the good stuff. I got on thier mailing list, and two weeks ago, they sent out a message that it was almost time for this year's harvest.
Today I drove up to Bickley Valley, and sure enough, HP Asparagus farms has frischer spargel, just like we saw at Easter in Deutschland!

It's nestled in a beautiful valley up in the hills behind Perth - a great morning's drive!



Some hollandaise sauce, and butter, and dinner tomorrow night looks sorted.

If you enjoy this delicacy, then make a bee-line to Bickley, as the season is measured in weeks!

http://www.bickleyvalleyasparagus.com/

 

[TheRealTMA]

That was the stupidest decision of the lot. They sold SYD airport for 5billion and it makes at least that every year.

Governments are just as good as running businesses as private enterprise. If not better. Just hire the right people to tun the business.

When we run out of things to sell we'll just increase indirect taxes.

Now if only you'd put your super into SYD shares when you saw Max Moore Wilson leave John Howard's employment and take on the chairmanship and privatise the airport, you'd be rolling in it, plus getting excellent tax fee dividends at the same time.

 

[whatmeworry]

Sadly one of the generators at Flinders didn't kick in straight away and some people have lost their frozen embryos.

Health Minister Jack Snelling revealed on ABC 891 radio this morning “about 12 patients were affected”. It was also suggested up to 25 embryos were lost per patient.

No Cookies | The Advertiser

 

[Pushka]

Sadly one of the generators at Flinders didn't kick in straight away and some people have lost their frozen embryos.



No Cookies | The Advertiser

When you know the pain and tears and heartache that goes into creating those embryos, it breaks my heart.

 

[vetrade]

Superb white asparagus to be had in Bavaria south of Munich. Lots of growers sell it roadside - some of it so big it looks positively phallic!

 

[love_the_life]

When you know the pain and tears and heartache that goes into creating those embryos, it breaks my heart.

Yes, so sad for all those involved.

 

[Cossie]

Hmmmm, spargel, Germany 2014.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

just out of interest, why not a proper spouse visa? given her ties to you and the baby, I'm concerned immigration may think Mrs JohnK might intend to outstay her visa and deny entry? or is that not an issue?

That shouldn't be an issue. She visited last year and returned.

We'll apply for 12 month multiple entry tourist visa and may get another 3 month visa. Then apply again for tourist visa. The third time we'll apply for temporary residency and finally permanent residency.

I am not sure I can get spouse visa on first attempt without immigration lawyers. My GP went through the same process above but he used immigration lawyers. Not that easy. Plus cost of spouse visa is ~$7,000. There is no rush. Want daughter to spend time between Australia and Thailand until she is ready for pre school.

 

[RooFlyer]

Originally Posted by Quickstatus Example is SYD.
They thought they could sell it off, Realise the $$$ and SYD would pay tax via their owners. But with aggressive gearing no tax paid.

Now no income from airport and the 5bil spent long ago

That was the stupidest decision of the lot. They sold SYD airport for 5billion and it makes at least that every year.

Governments are just as good as running businesses as private enterprise. If not better. Just hire the right people to tun the business.

When we run out of things to sell we'll just increase indirect taxes.

If you go back to the time of the airport privatisation (when I was in my investment banking phase) there was a lot of time and money spent trying to figure out exactly how much these things were worth. Its obvious now, but not so much back then.

I vividly recall a phone con we had (5 bankers in the room plus lawyers, accountants and the client reps - it was a big table!) with an 'airport expert' from Hong Kong. He was the guru and we wanted to know what he thought of SYD. His clear and repeated answer "Pay anything!"

"Pardon? its got these X, Y and Z issues ...."

PAY ANYTHING! PAY. ANY. THING. !! PAY ANYTHING!

Well .. that wasn't really what we wanted to hear, so we bid him farewell. The good airports were sold off along with the no so sexy airports, like Hobart.

I've told a few 'war stories' about the airport privatisation process on some of Buzz's wine tours .. come along and I'll share (Such as: "Why would you want to stop the Brisbane Air Train from stopping at Brisbane Airport?"

SYD doesn't actually make 5 Bill a year JohnK, although MacBank are expert in squeezing lemons, oranges and anything else they get their hands on.

Oh, and governments do NOT run businesses well. There is b-all sensitivity to customer service "We are the government. We are NOT going to go out of business if you don't come back, so tough bikkies" or price "We are the government. If we make a loss here, we'll just tax you more there. I don't care if you shop here or not"

Like I said, capital works for electricity, water, roads etc costs are eye-watering. The private sector can do it, and price for the the use of the specific assets accordingly, or the government can do it, borrow money and make everyone pay and keep you and your family in debt for another few generations.

I wish they would sell off the ABC - but then its just a $1 bill pa money pit, and you couldn't give it away.

 

[TomVexille]

I've told a few 'war stories' about the airport privatisation process on some of Buzz's wine tours .. come along and I'll share (Such as: "Why would you want to stop the Brisbane Air Train from stopping at Brisbane Airport?"

I must have missed those stories. You can tell me next time we cross paths

 

[beefarmer]

Well I spend from 5am - 7/8am nearly every morning cross checking overnight data - plus I use advanced software for analysis and have done for years. Then I sit in my office in front of a bank of screens for another 6 hours or so a day making guesses. Obviously such an approach wouldn't suit very many people but for me it is bliss compared to running businesses like I used to. It's great to go days at a time without having to put up with a single idiot.

As for Kochie et al, any information they can tell you has already been acted upon by the pros - that's why most people usually react after the opportunity has passed and spend their lives like hamsters in a wheel.

what are your thoughts on the next aussie interest rate move?

also, what about yellan and the next us move, when and how much vetrade?
cheers.

 

[beefarmer]

Superb white asparagus to be had in Bavaria south of Munich. Lots of growers sell it roadside - some of it so big it looks positively phallic!

I'll pass thanks.........

 

[Foreigner]

Still on Max Walker, this obituary in UK's The Telegraph is a good read:

Max Walker, popular Australian cricketer – obituary

[FONT=&quot]"Walker was universally regarded as the most delightful fellow, kind, helpful and friendly to all whom he encountered, without distinction.[/FONT]

 

[wandering_fred]

I'm perfectly happy with the green asparagus I remove from the garden every couple of days... Even have figured out how to cook it and have it remain edible.

Gardens are happy wandering

Fred

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Rumour:[Denied by RR] Qantas to ban JQ SYD-MEL pax from F lounges & send to J lou

That shouldn't be an issue. She visited last year and returned.

We'll apply for 12 month multiple entry tourist visa and may get another 3 month visa. Then apply again for tourist visa. The third time we'll apply for temporary residency and finally permanent residency.

I am not sure I can get spouse visa on first attempt without immigration lawyers. My GP went through the same process above but he used immigration lawyers. Not that easy. Plus cost of spouse visa is ~$7,000. There is no rush. Want daughter to spend time between Australia and Thailand until she is ready for pre school.

my friend had a long term partner, but not married. The partner was denied entry on the third re-entry to Australia because they were using a tourist visa to essentially 'stay'. this was outside the conditions. You might have a different experience given the marriage rather than long term de facto.

Applying for immigration status does not require immigration lawyers. it's very simple and straight forward provided you meet the requirements and have the time to compete the paper work.

 

[beefarmer]

Still on Max Walker, this obituary in UK's The Telegraph is a good read:

Max Walker, popular Australian cricketer – obituary

"Walker was universally regarded as the most delightful fellow, kind, helpful and friendly to all whom he encountered, without distinction.

Yes, this is a great read and a wonderful yet brief expose of a much loved dude.

 

[Denali]

Im assuming our office floor neighbour is conducting aggressive conflict resolution training or the SWAT team may be crashing our office soon.

Lots of yelling, swearing and "Please leave. The police have been called and will be arriving soon. Leave now".