Gorth

Better yet, they bought the planes before any parts existed (early 1960’s). The specs were probably state of the art in the 1960’s, but they didn’t start showing up until the late 70’s because of technical problems. They never got rid of that image. Planes crashing didn’t help the perception of being very expensive money pits. Not as bad as the Bundeswehr’s experiences with the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter mind you. That one tried to kill as many German fighter pilots as the allies did in wwii (exaggerated a bit, it didn’t get close to numbers) edit: The Collins class is what you get when you sack your German U-Boot partner to replace them with US partners

Because I lived 5 years in Adelaide, I was quite used to see the ASC yards down at the harbour. But the Collins class procurement issues only ranks the 12th worst managed Australian defense procurement debacle. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0102/02RP03 Sadly, it doesn't list the 11 issues above it, but I'm sure the F-111 acquisition ranks up there...

Her student debt (student loan) still exceeds her assets, so a net negative. Not necessarily rich. She'll probably end up loaded if she spends a life time in congress, no disagreement there. Still, it was a stunt well done and she got a lot of media attention for her message.

It's not a solution per se, more like a patch, but I dropped using credit card years ago. Debit card only, and an account with no more funds than I know I need for my next few online payments. If the proverbial **** hits the fan, I'll likely be a few hundred dollars out max.

Exactly. If anything, she's doing exactly what she says, "Taxing the rich", by making them pay sizeable dollar amounts for the tickets... but whoever made the text doesn't understand the meaning of the words used. Probably a lot of readers/viewers who doesn't understand it either. Edit: Just in case it's necessary, no AOC isn't on the rich list https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/03/09/fact-check-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-net-worth-not-1-m/6924378002/

China upset because neighbours wont just bend over and take it in the butt... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-58564837 The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what's seen as an effort to counter China. It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US. The Aukus pact, which will also cover AI and other technologies, is one of the countries' biggest defence partnerships in decades, analysts say. China has condemned the agreement as "extremely irresponsible". Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it "seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race". Particularly hilarious sounding, coming from the country with the largest navy in the world at the moment. "This is an historic opportunity for the three nations, with like-minded allies and partners, to protect shared values and promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region," the joint statement read. "This really shows that all three nations are drawing a line in the sand to start and counter [China's] aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific," said Guy Boekenstein from the Asia Society Australia.

Let's be honest, intelligence is not one of those attributes she is best known for... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58581292 In fact, she's joining the bandwagon of jeopardizing peoples lives through her stupidity. "Terrence Dyalsingh said on Wednesday that the "false" post had wasted his department's time. The tweet also claimed the friend had swollen testicles. It has caused backlash from health experts around the world who are concerned about vaccine disinformation. Minaj made the comments on Monday to her 22 million followers." ... "The tweet was also criticised by England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty who said Minaj should be "ashamed". "There are a number of myths that fly around, some of which are just clearly ridiculous and some of which are clearly designed just to scare," he said. "That happens to be one of them. That is untrue"." ... "US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said the rapper should " be thinking twice about propagating information that really has no basis". " Tl;d;r she's an attention whore looking to stir up things a bit. Maybe it improves her sales figures?

Are you sure you got the correct Pfizer treatment?

Biden is lucky... I wish *we* could forget that this corrupt, lying no good waste of oxygen, water and carbon molecules exists

You could argue the Nobel committee has turned into a (partisan) political body. Especially with the so called "peace prize".

You nailed it... 70's Klingon (the ones on the left and back) 80's Klingon. Notice the change in hairstyle!

Welcome back to the 80's

It’s similar here (Denmark) with the coalitions. Usually creating a centre-left or a centre-right coalition, leaving the fringe left and right parties to be heard, but without too much influence (this was 20 years ago, not sure how things are today). I remember government and opposition coalitions sometimes making deals across the parliament to ensure certain legislation would stay untouched regardless who won the next election (usually some wide ranging compromises about important national issues)

I can only refer to what I grew up with... in Denmark in the 60's, 70's and 18's, there were at times up to I *think* 14 political parties. It worked with a threshold system. Anyone getting the required minimum of 2% of the polular vote was guaranteed at least one seat in parliament. After the these seats were allocated to parties, the remaining seats were allocated after something not quite popular vote based, but more community based. Each town, region, large suburb etc. was an electoral circuit which got to send the local, popular vote winner to parliament. It was not unusual for candidates sometimes switching party if they didn't like where their party was headed. It meant a system which was almost always inherently "centrist", always marginalizing the extremes. They got heard, but had little influence. Good thing too, as it was a mix of everything from right populists to honest to god communists with close ties to Moscow Edit: that’s how a stand up comedian once ennded up in parliament for a few years. People were tired of the establishment and so got more than 2% of the popular vote. A relatively harmless outcome of an unhappy population at the polls. Of course he didn’t keep his election promises, we didn’t get more tailwind on the bicycle paths nor free Nutella for school lunches

On the other hand, you shouldn't really let "what about what the other guy did first" be an excuse for not holding those accountable who makes those (deadly) mistakes... whether it be the operator, the hardware or more likely an intelligence failure. As for global coverage, you and I both know media (including social media) is business first and foremost. Ratings matter. The more viewers and readers you can attract, the happier the advertisers and sponsors are, regardless of who gets thrown under the bus. That's free market economy too

Because I felt inspired by that Matrix trailer...

Best part of that Matrix trailer was the music!

During WW2 in occupied Denmark (and probably other countries too), there were similar rewards for ratting out neighbours who were “subversive elements” in the eyes of the regime

Upside-down rhino research wins Ig Nobel Prize https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58507100 An experiment that hung rhinoceroses upside down to see what effect it had on the animals has been awarded one of this year's Ig Nobel prizes. Other recipients included teams that studied the bacteria in chewing gum stuck to pavements, and how to control ****roaches on submarines. The spoof prizes are not as famous as the "real" Nobels - not quite. The ceremony couldn't take place at its usual home of Harvard University in the US because of Covid restrictions. Science...

Let's just say, I don't subscribe to that "just world" theory one bit. The world is inherently unfair and unreasonable and I would consider it everybody's responsibility to try to mitigate the excesses. So you're saying, it's effectively victim blaming going on? Bear in mind, I grew up in a non-religious world (Scandinavia), so religious communities is usually something you see happening in either the US or the Middle East on TV or on satire shows. But the quoted sentence is pretty much how I would imagine somebody with half a brain trying to rationalize why victims are to blame for their situation, unless you live in some kind of bubble thinking people get pregnant and have abortions the same way Aussies have BBQ and a six pack of beer, all in good fun to much cheers.

Just something to lighten the mood a bit...

Tl;dr; “pro-lifers” don’t give a **** about kids once they’re born and can drown for all they care. It’s about the logic of religious mindsets. Ilf I focus on a single issue, I can feel good and superior or some such

That is just part of it though, what I found despicable (and why I compare the Republicans to the Taliban) is they also explicitly excluded rape and incest victims, which will doom them to a life long reminder of their ordeals. Violent spouses have a history of raping their partners and keeping them in servitude by constantly and repeatedly making them pregnant. No way out for those other than flee the state of Texas, not unlike the way people tried to escape from East Berlin during the cold war. What's next? Going after people who try to help people escape Texas? Wouldn't surprise me to be honest.

Condolences @Guard Dog Not sure if there is anything really appropriate to say or make things less painful. As @Hurlsnotsaid, in some ways, people here have been together for so long we might as well have been family (and been together than your average marriage I think). Let us know if anyone can do anything, either here or on private messages Cheers Mate

Australia's (and Canada and the US) contribution to the fight against climate change...