The Lounge 2

[Grier]

Poor old Barneby Joyce is about to quit the Nationals being in conflict with the National's leader David Littleproud, and being sidelined. So like ex Labor's Mark Latham he might take up with Pauline Hanson's "One Nation" party.
He's a larger than life character, even passed out on a pavement once, a real larakin we begrudgingly shouldn't silence.
Maybe make him the new Ambassador to the US?
Why not?
Win-Win?

 

[Richie]

Poor old Barneby Joyce is about to quit the Nationals being in conflict with the National's leader David Littleproud, and being sidelined. So like ex Labor's Mark Latham he might take up with Pauline Hanson's "One Nation" party.
He's a larger than life character, even passed out on a pavement once, a real larakin we begrudgingly shouldn't silence.
Maybe make him the new Ambassador to the US?
Why not?
Win-Win?

Dreaded morning insomnia reason I'm awake so early.

I like Barnaby. Should start his own party as hed make a great leader.

Sydney is about to have the hottest October on record. 35 tomorrow and could reach a sizzling 40 on Wednesday. Hello this is mid Spring.

 

[Grier]

Dreaded morning insomnia reason I'm awake so early.

I like Barnaby. Should start his own party as hed make a great leader.

Sydney is about to have the hottest October on record. 35 tomorrow and could reach a sizzling 40 on Wednesday. Hello this is mid Spring.

Sorry to read your insomnia is back Craig. I get a bit of it too, but only occasionally, it leaves me feeling wretched the next day.
Crikey, it's getting hot in your Sydney so early. It was 31 C here yesterday and rainy and cold today. I've got my gas heater on.
Barnaby was twice deputy leader and now pushed to the back benches. Pauline Hanson likes him and would love to have him join her One Nation Party.


A few weeks ago my right hand brushed against one of my cactii and it seemingly got infected, or an allergic reaction?
It hurt like hell with painful swelling... and 2 lots of steroids (?), strong antibiotics and antihistamines and nothing worked. I see my Doc again tomorrow for possible scans, ... , but it is very slowly healing.
Anyway, I thought to bin all my cactii, but then something happed to my cactii. After a drenching winter and now mostly dry the weather concocted a reason for my cactii to flower!
It doesn't happen very often and mates say it's a rare event.
I just took this lovely pic:

The flowers just opened today. It was the big one that pricked me. Perhaps the big flower is an act of contrition?

 

[Richie]

That cacti infection sounds nasty Terry. Get well soon old mate.

I had some good news last evening. Bonnies anemia has all but been eradicated with her red cell count almost back to normal. What a relief. Been a month but she is a tuff little pooch. Been an ordeal for wife and I too...

 

[looker-on]

Sorry to read your insomnia is back Craig. I get a bit of it too, but only occasionally, it leaves me feeling wretched the next day.
Crikey, it's getting hot in your Sydney so early. It was 31 C here yesterday and rainy and cold today. I've got my gas heater on.
Barnaby was twice deputy leader and now pushed to the back benches. Pauline Hanson likes him and would love to have him join her One Nation Party.


A few weeks ago my right hand brushed against one of my cactii and it seemingly got infected, or an allergic reaction?
It hurt like hell with painful swelling... and 2 lots of steroids (?), strong antibiotics and antihistamines and nothing worked. I see my Doc again tomorrow for possible scans, ... , but it is very slowly healing.
Anyway, I thought to bin all my cactii, but then something happed to my cactii. After a drenching winter and now mostly dry the weather concocted a reason for my cactii to flower!
It doesn't happen very often and mates say it's a rare event.
I just took this lovely pic:
View attachment 3591
The flowers just opened today. It was the big one that pricked me. Perhaps the big flower is an act of contrition?

They're looking nice, no doubt, but they're not allowed to give you an infection. Get better soon mate.

 

[Grier]

Thanks guys,

"Life wasn't meant to be easy"
as rightly said ex Aussie Liberal/conservative PM Malcolm Fraser.
I actually voted for him back in our fading past, when young and foolish. I'm still foolish.
He was good for Australia and had a good heart, especially shown in his humanitarian work in his latter years.

Like many flowers that bloom they are short lived.
This is them at their best just yesterday.

They started looking limp today but yesterday I rescued a worker bee delicately from my bathroom with a soft tissue to release it outdoors, near my cactii.. . It flew off ok.

Great Google image of Bee in Cactus flower, just like mine.


I'd done some bee keeping as a pre Uni job south of Perth decades ago and they're my easily most favourite insect. The healing properties of honey even known to ancient civillizations and certain special waxes used for polishing exquisite violins. ... etc ...

I heard it said that 'if the bees go, we go too!'

They love several of my bushes, especially my Star bushes and Jade bushes that flower beautifully through our Winter
Not sure why but as I trim my flowering bushes with even Bees all about them, for decades I've never been stung.
They don't mind me I reckon. Likewise Dogs.

 

[Richie]

Australia's newly sealed critical minerals deal with the United States has sent the share market skyrocketing. The industry and investors are responding to billions of dollars in new investment aimed at disrupting China's dominance over global rare earths supply chains.​

So Australia becoming a world renewables superpower is now very much a reality. Are we again the LUCKY COUNTRY. We have companies already removing these minerals and others ready to begin. They will be clambering over each other to be the first to extract these vital minerals to sell to the Free World. And we are not only mining them but refining them as well with two refineries being built and no doubt others will follow. Well done Albo.

 

[Grier]

Australia's newly sealed critical minerals deal with the United States has sent the share market skyrocketing. The industry and investors are responding to billions of dollars in new investment aimed at disrupting China's dominance over global rare earths supply chains.​

So Australia becoming a world renewables superpower is now very much a reality. Are we again the LUCKY COUNTRY. We have companies already removing these minerals and others ready to begin. They will be clambering over each other to be the first to extract these vital minerals to sell to the Free World. And we are not only mining them but refining them as well with two refineries being built and no doubt others will follow. Well done Albo.

That was a great result with flogging our rare earth minerals to the US. Mainly because China won't sell their rare minerals to the US. Thanks Xi, we'll do it. We have a continent full of them.
I wonder if the US will put tariffs on these exports to them?

 

[Grier]

On a serious note from my favourite Science web page and free subscription 'Nature briefing'.

Brazil “shows how better policy can make a difference” when it comes to defending rainforests, argues an editorial in The Economist. As we approach the United Nations climate conference, COP30, starting next month in Brazil, the editorial explores how the country’s “judicious mix of stick and carrot” can offer lessons to the world. But the overarching challenge remains: how should countries be recompensed for protecting the lungs of the planet? “Somehow, the world has to find a way to make conservation pay.”

Nature Briefing | Nature

Browse the archive of articles on Nature

www.nature.com

I bet Trump's US won't attend being so anti Science, ignorant and selfish to care for the planet's survival. It's all short term thinking with.such Pigorants and their pigorance galore gorging on disinformation and their rubbish conspiracy theories trying to justify their greed.

Will we humans survive our own follies?
I sincerely hope so..
Larry Niven' and Jerry Pournell's Sci fi book "The Mote in God's Eye" depicts a dystopian perspective on intelligent life evolution in our Galaxy.
A very apt title.

 

[Richie]

This will blow your mind. More brilliant Aussie technology.

The futuristic green screen set bringing Hollywood to our shores

9now.nine.com.au

 

[Grier]

This will blow your mind. More brilliant Aussie technology.

The futuristic green screen set bringing Hollywood to our shores

9now.nine.com.au

That's great News Craig. We Aussies often punch above our weight.

To add to that just 5km north of me in Perth is a huge Film Studio facility almost constructed.
The most significant new film production in Perth is the Perth Film Studios, a major state-funded facility under construction in Malaga that is set to open in early 2026. In addition to this large-scale project, other productions are filming on location in and around Perth, with one recent example being the feature film End to End which is currently filming along the Bibbulmun Track.

Major upcoming facility

• Perth Film Studios: This is a new, world-class screen production facility being built in Malaga.
• Opening: The studios are scheduled to commence operations in early 2026.
• Features: The complex will include four sound stages, production offices, workshops, a backlot, and other amenities.
• Goal: The facility aims to attract major national and international film and television projects to Western Australia.
  
  Not bad for us Sandgropers! I often ride my motorbike past it and it's HUGE.

 

[Grier]

1This will blow your mind. More brilliant Aussie technology.

The futuristic green screen set bringing Hollywood to our shores

9now.nine.com.au

That's great News Craig. We Aussies often punch our weight.
I know you know a lot about theatre and films, more than me for sure. Pity Trump's put huge tariffs on movie exports to the US.

To add to that just north 5km north of me in Perth is a huge Film Studios facility with its construction almost finished.
I often ride past it on my motorbike and would love to be an extra.

The most significant new film production in Perth is the Perth Film Studios, a major state-funded facility under construction in Malaga that is set to open in early 2026. In addition to this large-scale project, other productions are filming on location in and around Perth, with one recent example being the feature film End to End which is currently filming along the Bibbulmun Track.

Major upcoming facility

• Perth Film Studios: This is a new, world-class screen production facility being built in Malaga.
• Opening: The studios are scheduled to commence operations in early 2026.
• Features: The complex will include four sound stages, production offices, workshops, a backlot, and other amenities.
• Goal: The facility aims to attract major national and international film and television projects to Western Australia.
  
  Not bad for us Sandgropers!

Here's a pic of it.
For scale, look at the little dark spots on the tarmac.
They're people.

We also have a suburb called Hollywood!

 

[Richie]

That's great News Craig. We Aussies often punch our weight.
I know you know a lot about theatre and films, more than me for sure. Pity Trump's put huge tariffs on movie exports to the US.

To add to that just north 5km north of me in Perth is a huge Film Studios facility with its construction almost finished.
I often ride past it on my motorbike and would love to be an extra.

The most significant new film production in Perth is the Perth Film Studios, a major state-funded facility under construction in Malaga that is set to open in early 2026. In addition to this large-scale project, other productions are filming on location in and around Perth, with one recent example being the feature film End to End which is currently filming along the Bibbulmun Track.

Major upcoming facility

• Perth Film Studios: This is a new, world-class screen production facility being built in Malaga.
• Opening: The studios are scheduled to commence operations in early 2026.
• Features: The complex will include four sound stages, production offices, workshops, a backlot, and other amenities.
• Goal: The facility aims to attract major national and international film and television projects to Western Australia.
  
  Not bad for us Sandgropers!

Here's a pic of it.
For scale, look at the little dark spots on the tarmac.
They're people.
View attachment 3596
We also have a suburb called Hollywood!

Very impressive by you Sandgropers Terry. What a pity this futuristic green set is not in Perth too. They could work hand in hand.

I have been an extra and a speaking actor in my time. I even ran my own acting company for a while. But it was so hard to make a living in this industry so was forced to give it away once I was married.

 

[looker-on]

Thanks guys,

"Life wasn't meant to be easy"
as rightly said ex Aussie Liberal/conservative PM Malcolm Fraser.
I actually voted for him back in our fading past, when young and foolish. I'm still foolish.
He was good for Australia and had a good heart, especially shown in his humanitarian work in his latter years.

Like many flowers that bloom they are short lived.
This is them at their best just yesterday.
View attachment 3592
They started looking limp today but yesterday I rescued a worker bee delicately from my bathroom with a soft tissue to release it outdoors, near my cactii.. . It flew off ok.

Great Google image of Bee in Cactus flower, just like mine.
View attachment 3593

I'd done some bee keeping as a pre Uni job south of Perth decades ago and they're my easily most favourite insect. The healing properties of honey even known to ancient civillizations and certain special waxes used for polishing exquisite violins. ... etc ...

I heard it said that 'if the bees go, we go too!'

They love several of my bushes, especially my Star bushes and Jade bushes that flower beautifully through our Winter
Not sure why but as I trim my flowering bushes with even Bees all about them, for decades I've never been stung.
They don't mind me I reckon. Likewise Dogs.
View attachment 3594

View attachment 3595

These are truly award-worthy pics, Terry. Have you already sent them in somewhere?

 

[Grier]

Very impressive by you Sandgropers Terry. What a pity this futuristic green set is not in Perth too. They could work hand in hand.

I have been an extra and a speaking actor in my time. I even ran my own acting company for a while. But it was so hard to make a living in this industry so was forced to give it away once I was married.

I know what you mean about the poor pay.
I've recently reconnected with an old school chum who went into acting, directing plays, ... some tv, teaching but at 69 he's still having to work and rent, ...

 

[Richie]

If this is factual. It is both Abhorrent and Horrific.

 

[Richie]

Deception Island, Antarctic.

These may be the graves of some of those victims.