Gorth

You know, there is a reason why the banking sector is universally despised and hated in Australia? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commission_into_Misconduct_in_the_Banking,_Superannuation_and_Financial_Services_Industry I know it's a wiki link, but as someone who saw the whole thing unfold, I'm actually surprised that bank CEO"s didn't get assassinated in dark alleys 😂 (the background section is the interesting bit) Basically, the biggest hive of scum and villainy you can imagine.

It's a bit more complicated than that. The political system is very different. Say hello to 10+ party systems, creating a patchwork of alliances and compromises when creating governments. No powerful presidents. Nobody being above the law (Impeachment? What's that?) If the prime minister breaks the law, he goes to jail. End of story (not sure about the other Nordic countries, but in Denmark, the queen is the only one that has Sovereign Immunity and is effectively above the law. But not having one or two powerful parties makes a big difference, as most laws will have to pass through the approval process of several parties, meaning they are generally better at passing "centrist" laws and also less likely to be reversed when opposition parties are in power (because they or their allied parties may have been signatories to them) Margrethe Vestager (European Commissioner for Competition) is a typical product of the system. Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Apple probably still hates her guts for cracking down on their business practices in Europe (slapping billions of dollars of fines on them when they abuse their market positions and to show them, that no matter how big they are, they are not above the law either) Things like free healthcare, free universities, basic income etc. paid through taxation, passing on most of the bill to the richest part of the population, is sort of "socialist" in nature, but in the end, helped a country that had little natural resources to have an educated, skilled work force and a good "happiness" rating in those various charts. Free speech is one of those things that became a bit of a talking point when the infamous Muhammad Cartoons got published by a Danish newspaper. First the government tried to stop it from escalating (filing a judicial complaint against the paper), but when it failed, they bowed to public pressure and stood firm. Not sure how it is now, 15 years later, but the press is/was very, very powerful and always there, watching the various governments and calling them out on any BS Edit: Don't get me started on unions, labour laws, 6 weeks paid annual leave etc. 😝

I wish it was that simple, I really do. Last time I went shopping for cutlery (I know, I got two hands, but... spoons are much better at liquid stuff), I had a choice between about 30 different sets from 4 different brands. All made in China (and obviously made at the lowest possible cost, judging by the quality of the manufacture and the finish of the sets). Luckily I still have a few oldies brought with me from Europe, made 30 years ago in Germany. Unlike the so called "stainless steel" cutlery from China, the 3 decades old German stuff actually doesn't rust. The made in China stuff looks like it's ready for the scrap heap after a single trip to the dishwasher. Would I prefer to buy more of the old German stuff? You bet, but no department stores or home whatever stores carries those ranges, only the lowest possible cost stuff. If anything, you can blame history for having led us to a situation where people don't really much of a real choice, it's digging the hole deeper or eat with your hands. Edit: I did mention a while back, I believe that unregulated capitalism leads to no choice at too high prices for what you get (monopolies).

Renewable energy CAN work if the will is there... mind you, it's still only half and it doesn't account for a fleet of cars that still mostly fossil fuel driven (sorry Tesla) Ironically, Denmark is a net exporter of oil, so it's not like they don't have their own oil supply from the North Sea. https://reneweconomy.com.au/denmark-secured-50-of-its-power-supply-from-wind-and-solar-in-2019/

After Trumps latest rant, claiming the president is all powerful and has total control of everything, I can't help imagining him sitting in the corner of his bed at night, rocking back and forth in fetal position, wishing he was someone like Xi, Kim or Putin, who has both power and respect (if not loved, then feared by their subjects)

I'm not religious, but I've always had a thing for "gospel choirs". Hard not to feel in a better mood afterwards. (quotation marks because I'm not sure it's the right terminology)

I really know the world is ending in a giant apocalypse soon... because I've become addicted a bit to a mobile game 😂 Lost last nights sleep to a game called World Conqueror 2. Still early days, but having taken Poland, Denmark and Norway, it's time for operation Sea Lion. Turn based strategy goodness.

Yeah, THAT should show them not to mess with Azdeus 🔥 (you can put the matches away now)

...and because I'm on a roll

I don't know if Youtube's age filter kicks in. I hope so. NSFW

Ah well, double post (triple actually?) Edit: A surprising number of Russian cover versions of Rammstein songs... wanna bet, these kids have no idea what they are singing? (doing great though)

...more Rammstein Edit: Sneaking in a second video

Happy Easter to you too old friend (yes, I'm still a heathen) 🍀

Here's to hoping she doesn't get a single cent back. Maybe offer her some good cooking recipes? I remember as a poor student that toilet paper in a pinch could be used as coffee filters (that was before instant coffee). No kidding, if you don't have any money, you become inventive. Hope she chokes on that paper for a very long time to come 🖕

Found some simple recipes I might give a try. All according to the "kiss" principle and explained in plain Australian (warning, lots of swearing in the video) (he has a number of different dishes which I might try out over the next few months)

But, you're still married? 🤔

Rammstein.... how to love something unlovable?

Hey, everyone knows Corona comes from Mexico, right? Money for that wall has to come from somewhere!

In case you hadn't noticed, the economy was in a very bad shape before the virus. It just sort of "conveniently" masked the fact that the economy was heading for a free fall, the likes of the GFC. https://theconversation.com/the-yield-curve-is-one-of-the-most-accurate-predictors-of-a-future-recession-and-its-flashing-warning-signs-119963 This is from mid 2019 Debt fueled economy will increase in it's volatility until society breaks apart completely. Better learn how to make fire with sticks and how to cook wilder beasts 😛 edit: You want to fire people for doing their job? You're as bad as Trump!

Bad news for share holders.... capitalism is dying (good riddance) (using the .in link instead of .com as the latter whines about my ad blocker) https://www.businessinsider.in/macquarie-capitalism-is-dead-and-finance-has-become-a-poison-and-there-are-3-ways-this-era-will-end/articleshow/63068484.cms Warning, lots of text: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-06/is-capitalism-dying-or-just-in-isolation-coronavirus/12123874 Nationalisation of a lot of stuff might be just around the corner, world wide that is.

"Mango compote is better than no compote" 😂 What an excellent little video 👍

A Serbian friend of mine keeps insisting I have to try rakija some day. When it gets easier to travel again, I'll head down to Melbourne and take her up on that. (google image)

Being forced to work from home didn't exactly give me more spare time, but ask away, even if replies might not be instantaneous

I gave it 30+ years to sink in, it failed. Haven't indeed cared much about the world in that time. If it didn't sink in during 3 decades, it probably wont Not that I'm sitting at the sideline and waving a little Corona flag, cheering it on mind you 😂 Just agreed to up my monthly Red Cross donation on the phone today, so it's not that I hate all people, just really don't care about society in it's current form.

I wonder if I'm really an evil person or some kind of xyz-opath, or maybe it's just growing up on the front line between Nato and WP and surviving The Cold War that does it, but I think I really stopped caring about the survival of "civilisation" as we know it a long time ago. Not my preferred way of fixing the overpopulation problem, but all I can do these days is watching what's happening with a head scratch and a feeling of mild annoyance at the inconvenience. Walking around the streets in the city now, brings back childhood memories of a world with less people (and way less cars) in it and feeling less claustrophobic. Maybe I'm just a cynic and a grumpy old bastard (and self proclaimed anarchist).