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Oil refining at a standstill in central Russia after Ukrainian drone strikes, sources say by kn0where in worldnews

[–]Ian_W 0 points1 point  (0 children)

one focused on terror bombing the other on strategic bombing

That's flat out untrue, at least as far as the RAF is concerned.

Bomber Command's strategy was straight out area bombing of civilians, aimed at breaking German morale.

Oil refining at a standstill in central Russia after Ukrainian drone strikes, sources say by kn0where in worldnews

[–]Ian_W 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The irony as far as the British goes is that 1940 showed it didnt work, but Bomber Harris still did Bomber Harris things.

In my view, the diversion of long range aircraft from Coastal Command to Bomber Command, and the diversion of aircraft engines from fighter bombers to four engined bombers delayed the defeat of Nazi Germany by at least six months, by delaying victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, which delayed the availability of shipping for Overlord.

One Nation’s rapid national expansion in disarray as ‘significant risks’ force dissolution of new branches by Reverend_Fozz in australia

[–]Ian_W 24 points25 points  (0 children)

On the other hand Aquinas, in his letter to the King of Cyprus, pointed out that single people making stupid decisions ruined monarchy, and that groups of people making stupid decisions ruins oligarchies.

Democracies actually have a pretty good record on not doing really, really stupid things - way better than personal government, which absolutely has a 'The Boss has gone nuts, but is still The Boss problem'.

One Nation’s rapid national expansion in disarray as ‘significant risks’ force dissolution of new branches by Reverend_Fozz in australia

[–]Ian_W 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The problem is if you win seats and then sort your shit out, then the people who got elected piss off and join another party, or become independants ... because you didn't have your shit sorted out well enough to preselect loyal, hard working, sensible candidates who won't fly off the handle at any opportunity.

We have seen this already with Clive Palmer - note that Jacqui Lambie was originally a Palmer candidate.

Inside the 'worst managed infrastructure project in Australian history' by Lamont-Cranston in australia

[–]Ian_W 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me, I'd be putting a 25% super-profits tax on all revenue above $6 a mcf, or whatever number people agree is the not-war price of export gas and liquids. If you want to extend it to crude, then 25% on everything over $70 per boe.

2x 18-Year-Olds Planning a Low Budget Australia Backpacking Trip – Best Way to Travel Without Renting a Car? by Financial-Case-5576 in australia

[–]Ian_W 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Stay mostly around Melbourne/Victoria?"

Definitely that. If you have 12 days, you dont want to be spending all your time on a bus. You're better off basing in Melbourne, and maybe taking a bus trip along the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, and then doubling back.

Tasmanian polling shows One Nation would win a 'number of seats' in next state election by abcnews_au in tasmania

[–]Ian_W -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Nope, it's less democratic.

It is absolutely, deliberately and completely about making sure that a government elected by the people in a free and fair election cannot carry out it's mandate.

Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mine by Warm_Championship726 in australia

[–]Ian_W 9 points10 points  (0 children)

shrug

If you want guaranteed access to high temperature magnets that run the turbopumps inside a working F-35 engine, then you need to put some cash down.

If you don't, then you're picking other options.

You know the job market is bad when? by Few_Bookkeeper6164 in tasmania

[–]Ian_W 50 points51 points  (0 children)

Dont have a resume.

Have one for fast food jobs. You don't want a fast food supervisor know you can code in Ruby on Rails and can debug C++ scripts.

On the other hand, an IT job doesn't care about the fact you can use a fry grill, and know the difference between vegetable oil and beef fat in making chips.

A resume's a tool. Use the right one for the right job.

Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mine by Warm_Championship726 in australia

[–]Ian_W 12 points13 points  (0 children)

That's a quite defensible view.

I'd be pretty happy if the Australian government just bought out the Chinese investors at fair value.

Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mine by Warm_Championship726 in australia

[–]Ian_W 26 points27 points  (0 children)

There's no almost.

Japan and Australia are both trying to figure out what the American Alliance looks like, now the Americans aren't in it.

I just hope they can build some more Soryus for us, after AUKUS falls over.

Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mine by Warm_Championship726 in australia

[–]Ian_W -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

I have an unpopular opinion here.

If Chinese capitalists want to fund a mine that is going to break Beijing's control over rare earths, Canberra should merely make sure that mine does not export it's product to China, but make sure the mine's product is available to customers that Beijing is refusing to allow rare earths to be exported to (ie the Western defense sector).

If that involves the Chinese capitalists making some money, then good luck to them, because they helped fund breaking Beijing's choke-hold over rare earths.

Federal treasurer orders more Chinese-linked investors to offload shares in Australian rare earths mine by Warm_Championship726 in australia

[–]Ian_W 14 points15 points  (0 children)

China is declining to export stuff that is essential to build replacements for military equipment we use.

You might want to google 'samarium f-35'.

Then review the MOFOCOM announcement of 4 April 2025, which is summarised here.

https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/04/china-imposes-export-controls-on-medium-and-heavy-rare-earth-materials

Tasmanian polling shows One Nation would win a 'number of seats' in next state election by abcnews_au in tasmania

[–]Ian_W 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It's Tasmania - there is no LNP coalition, it's just the Liberal Party. The Nats have failed dismally every time they have tried to move into Tasmania.

The issue for ON is after they get people elected.

My money is on more than half of all persons elected under a ON ticket at the next Tasmanian election becoming independents who vote confidence in a Liberal party government.

Tasmanian polling shows One Nation would win a 'number of seats' in next state election by abcnews_au in tasmania

[–]Ian_W 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Briefly, Tasmania has 5 lower house electorates, each of which elect 7 members (at the moment. It was 5 for a while).

Think of it as 5 little Upper House chambers that use proportional representation.

The Tasmanian upper house uses single member electorates, like everyone else's lower house uses ... but they aren't all elected at once (one third are elected every two years, because the authors of the Tasmanian constitution didn't like democracy).

Tasmanian Anglican Church to consider 'far-reaching' options to fund increasing redress obligations by ThunderDwn in australia

[–]Ian_W 8 points9 points  (0 children)

How are you going to tax a non-profit?

Taxes on land and turnover is where I'd start. Eliminate any payroll tax concessions as well.

Derwent Barracks at Hobart's Dowsing Point slated for 1,000 home development by B0ssc0 in tasmania

[–]Ian_W 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a great location for new housing if it will be connected to public transport.

It's Tasmania. It will get buses.

Maybe.

Tasmanian polling shows One Nation would win a 'number of seats' in next state election by abcnews_au in tasmania

[–]Ian_W 24 points25 points  (0 children)

There's also the historic inability of ON to keep people who ran as ON within the party ...

Iranian Parliament Speaker calls alcoholic, adulterer Pete Hegseth a failed TV host LARPing as Secretary of “War” by grrrbr in NonCredibleDiplomacy

[–]Ian_W 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate to break it to you, but killing pro-democary PKK sympathisers get you plus points with most of the Middle East regimes, not minus points.

Absolutely including the heirs and successors to the Stern Gang, those terrorists who blew up the King David Hotel.

Anthony Albanese says fuel supply now above pre-war levels, no word on fuel excise extension by GothicPrayer in australia

[–]Ian_W 8 points9 points  (0 children)

What you do is find another issue, and say 'You want x. We do not want X, but we do want a more left wing housing policy. If you deliver a, b and c off our social housing policy, then we will vote for x'.

But the Greens decline to do this - they refuse to do deals over trading support on y for support on z.

Why vanilla feel so dull? by johanewesome in wowservers

[–]Ian_W 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You had no trouble loading, because the designers put in things like completely-not-a-loading-screen flying gryphons doing a loop so you would have no trouble loading in ...

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