Australia Day supplementary links January 26 – 27, 2020

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Miss Australia, 1975, Martin Sharp, Art Gallery of NSW

 

Macro & Markets

 

Asia

 

Europe

 

Americas

 

Terra Specufestorus

 

…and furthermore…

 

Latest posts by Gunnamatta (see all)

Comments

  3. J BauerMEMBER

    https://www.smh.com.au/national/coronavirus-ban-puts-quarter-of-chinese-tourism-to-australia-at-risk-20200126-p53ut2.html

    This article is shocking on so many levels and shows the govts thought process. Whilst China is quarantining itself the tourism minister is trying to encourage people to visit Australia.

    “Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said in a statement that the government was “aware of unconfirmed reports that Chinese officials have ordered travel agencies to suspend sales of international tours in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus”.

    “We are urgently seeking clarification from Chinese officials via our embassy in Beijing on these reports and whether they include sales to Australia,” he said.

    “Australia has well established measures and safeguards in place to deal with the threat of viruses including at our airports. These have in the past minimised the impacts of other viruses on our tourism industry by giving people confidence in the safety of visiting Australia.””

    • TailorTrashMEMBER

      There was a time when Straya was scared of the yellow peril ………now that uncle Xi is trying to save them from themselves they are lamenting the loss of money ……
      ……pathetic ………( mind you a lot of those tourism operators are newly minted strayans with newly brought values )

      And this is the LNP at its best …..representing the business dollar ……

      • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

        Concerned MPs from both sides of the party divide need to break away from the party spin doctor selected narratives and demand immediate action to prevent the death of Australian citizens from this virus.

        Anyone who’s child dies from this Corona virus in Australia should be given 10 minutes with a Base ball bat and a tied up Simon Birmingham.

        • bolstroodMEMBER

          … and Dutton.
          FFS all those billions of $ setting up and “operating” Broader Farce, and when the st!t hits the fan…
          Crickets

        • DominicMEMBER

          Amen. That **** takes shamelessness to another level. Not a single concern for anyone but himself and the parasitic vested interests camped around him.

    • Ronin8317MEMBER

      The Australian Federal government’s competence level is on a par with the Wuhan local government who tried to cover up the epidemic.

      • TrooDohMEMBER

        Here we go again. Australian citizens of convenience are once again demanding that the Australian taxpayer help them escape from their ethnic homeland. And, according to that article, the Australian government is barely pretending to care.

        As the number of infected grows across China, expect more of these Australian citizens to demand help from the Australian government. The numbers could rise quite dramatically.

        This is what happens when you devalue citizenship and hand it out too easily. It becomes meaningless. You are left with a citizenry who feel little obligation to each other. And people are only ‘Australians’ when it suits them.

        • TailorTrashMEMBER

          Shades of all those Lebanese “Australians “ demanding the Australian government get them out when the Israelis started to bomb the crap out of them …..
          wonderful thing strayan citizenship 🇦🇺

          • TrooDohMEMBER

            Yes, I was going to say that this reminded me of the Lebanon crisis. But potentially on a much larger scale.

      • Ronin8317MEMBER

        Even if both your parent are Chinese national, you still have to be born in China to get Chinese nationality.

        • Mining BoganMEMBER

          Oh, okay. Got that bit wrong then.

          See, I’ve just found a couple of links saying that even if born abroad, a child born to Chinese nationals is considered a Chinese citizen. Has it changed?

    • Wing Nut

      One fvcking scanner in Sydney. Seriously? How are they scanning arrivals who are showing symptoms but not outwardly? Bushfire response MK II. oh yeh, where the fvck is Dutton?

    • TrooDohMEMBER

      “Australia has well established measures and safeguards in place to deal with the threat of viruses including at our airports.”

      Like what exactly? Handing out pamphlets saying “If you feel sick after spreading your virus around the joint, please give us a buzz. Regards, Gubment of Straya” is not a safeguard.

      These clowns are criminally inept.

    • SweeperMEMBER

      They are morons. As if allowing a pandemic to spread to Australia will be good for tourism/the economy.
      From the same school of stupidity that says climate change mitigation will hurt the economy but allowing the country to burn won’t.

    • CharlieM

      The government is sick beyond belief and doesn’t give a toss about us, just $$$. I hope this virus does not take hold here but if it does I hope it thoroughly sweeps through Canberra.

    • reusachtigeMEMBER

      It’s good to see our government doing everything they can to protect business and profits. That is all that matters.

    • OlafMEMBER

      Empty words from Birmingham. There is almost no way to tell someone shedding a virus in its early stages. At the airport, the chance of picking people up would be close to nil.
      This government is so flat-footed that their response to Coronavirus may yet make their bushfire response look agile and fleet of foot.
      You would think being on a big island a long way from other countries might afford some natural advantage when these things erupt. Unfortunately our government is determined to squander even that.

    • ZuluMEMBER

      WTF! He’s so fckn dumb he wants to put profits ahead of Australians health! He’s so fckn arrogant that he expects China will treat us as an exception for Australia just to keep our tourism sector ticking. How can it be that Chairman Xi is doing more to protect Australians (incl Urgurs 😂) than our own democratically elected government who are supposed to put our interests first!

  7. Ronin8317MEMBER

    Today should be a very busy day at Eastwood due to Chinese New Year, but instead it’s a ghost town. The car park is only 1/3 full, which is unprecedented. At least the Chinese in Australia are taking the Wuhan coronavirus seriously.

    • SachaMEMBER

      Maybe mortality rate has jumped to 66.6%, in which case I would also take it seriously. But I’m not a doctor.

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      Do you ever go into Eastwood Bizzos Ronin?
      A mate texted me today asking a bunch of us to go up there for a Beer this afternoon.
      I couldn’t be bothered and didn’t go.
      But I think I’ll avoid the place over the next few weeks while seeing how this plays out.

      What worries me a bit is the Kids are going back to school in a few days.
      It’s about 35% Asian at their School mostly Chinese and fewer Koreans.

      If this Corona thing turns into a real pandemic Sydney and Melbourne are Gunna be Fvcked.

      Should I be keeping my Kids out of School for a few weeks just to be sure?

      • Wing Nut

        Reckon there’d be quite a few uni’s and tafe’s who’d be absolutely sh1tting themselves at the moment given the high number of Chinese students in their midst.

      • Ronin8317MEMBER

        Only been there a few times for the Chinese restaurant, never been to the pub.

        The 3 cases in NSW are at Rhode, Parramatta and Burwood, but it is very likely they would have visited Eastwood at some point in time and there is unconfirmed rumour one of them visited a GP there. Given the heat, the virus would not have survived in the environment, but personally I would avoid Eastwood until no new cases have appeared in a week.

        As to school, the NSW government is really behind the ball. Private schools like Ravenswood are already telling students who visited China that they can’t go back to school without a doctor’s clearance certificate. I think this is both ineffective and irresponsible, it should be compulsory quarantine for 2 weeks instead, or extend the school holiday by 2 weeks like Beijing and HK.

        • Timmeh

          I dont get this info going around that the virus doesnt like heat or humidity. Where did that come from?

          Last time I checked, its pretty bloody warm and moist inside a human body.

          • Ronin8317MEMBER

            It’s to do with the virus’s survival rate outside the human body : like on taps, elevator handrails, etc.

      • happy valleyMEMBER

        Our local north shore primary school is 75% Asian cohort, so that should help matters along?

      • reusachtigeMEMBER

        Now is the time to panic. If I were you I’d be taking matters into my own hands and organising a mob of locals to keep those Chinamen kids away from your kids and their school !!

      • bolstroodMEMBER

        EP if I were you I would stear clear of your mates who go to that pub at this time, at least for 3 weeks.
        I would not send my kids to school until the situation clarifies, and then only if the all clear is given.
        The Chinese Govt. is not acting as they are for nothing.

        • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

          Agree.
          I’ve already told the wife the kids won’t be going to school this week (Wednesday is their first day)
          Hopefully more information on just how bad this situation is will be available so we can decide if they go in the week after.
          I haven’t seen my newly arrived Chinese Neighbours (4 or 5 years) who live across the road for a few weeks now.
          I’m thinking they are probably over in China now for their holiday season.

          Gulp

          • SnappedUpSavvyMEMBER

            My mainland chynaman neighbours are still not back either. 😬

            Hey, do yours acknowledge you exist? You know wave or smile

    • SweeperMEMBER

      Would’ve thought the free market right would be in favour of wet markets and bat soup.
      Why should the state tell people what they can sell, or eat.
      Another crisis caused by market forces and absent regulation, with the cost borne by the state.

      • TrooDohMEMBER

        From my understanding, PJW isn’t part of the “free market right.”

        In fact, a lot of these new conservative types – whatever you want to call them – express a hostility toward unregulated capitalism, free trade and the obsession with GDP. Listen to some of Tucker Carlson’s commentary.

      • DominicMEMBER

        You either didn’t watch the full clip or you missed the message entirely i.e. the cancerous ‘progressive’ narrative continues to demand we citizens adhere to the globalist Progtard manifesto.

        Ya know, ‘improving’ the world by force.

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      Loved the dig at “Economist” readers,… genuine laugh out loud,…Pleb!
      6min in untill the end.

  10. GavinMEMBER

    Ok question what is the best / cheapest method of interstate move? I was looking to hire a small truck and drive 1 way, but not sure it will actually save me any money.

        • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

          Yeah!,…Convoy!
          Remember that old Driver safety campaign,
          “Stop, Revive and Survive”
          We altered that a bit when on long drives,
          “Stop, have a Bong and Go on”

          When are we going?

        • GavinMEMBER

          Well I’ve got my white automatic 240z which hasn’t been on the road for 8 years or so. I am thinking of trying to get the aircon working in it and driving it down. Few spares in the boot and what could possibly go wrong?

          I asked my mate to fly up so we could document it for fun. But I reckon he will fizzle out haha. So if you feel like taking a 1 way drive let me know? An old Datsun on the Hume may not be too comfortable though. 😎

    • bzunicaMEMBER

      I did the numbers on self driving a truck and found using a company like taxibox was only marginally more expensive, but they allowed u to store for some time, which was good for us as we were not moving into our new place for 3 weeks after the move.

      • GavinMEMBER

        That may work well. I’ll have to call for a quote. May get away with 1 box only. I’m not moving any furniture just a bunch of Bunnings 50l plastic crates I think. It’s more garage stuff I need to sort through. Got an engine stand and hoist.

        • davidjwalsh

          look out for the I&dian controlled trucks Gav … move from Canberra to Brisvagas almost year ago, two , on internet searches highly recommended, ‘back loading’ operations, highlighted they (vibrants that is) have taken over the industry …

          after agreeing to 3 day delivery time to Brisbane address (to allow 1 day clean up in Canberra, 2 days drive up Newell Hwy) called me around lunchtime on day 2 to say ‘will be at address within 2 hrs … uhhh no, I’m not in Brisbane until tomorrow” no response, later, your truck is now on Sunshine Coast maybe later today, yadda yadda, guys (vibrants) show up 3 days later demanding x2 contracted price before unloading … anywho, got my stuff off the truck after calling local police claiming extortion demand by vibrants, police suggested use credit card to pay and then dispute, renounced credit card payment and (after ~ 2 months eventually NAB agreed wasn’t an agreed payment)

          maybe a small victory, but given vibrant crew cited “racist” behaviour by myself and significant other with me (US female who identifies as “negro” vs ‘black American’), I feel I scored one for all the oppressed ‘old white men’ out there ….

          BTW, are Indian taxi drivers in Shitney and Hellbourne pulling the ‘my back is no good you must put suitcases in car’ lark??
          surely not only in Brissy?????

    • jsMEMBER

      A friend rang around removal companies, and found a place taking an incomplete load.
      She didn’t have a huge amount of stuff, and basically’ backloaded the truck- filled the rest of the space.
      Meant she had less choice about when it travelled, but it was quite a lot cheaper.

      • davidjwalsh

        my experiences with backloading (which appears to have been taken over by a certain ethnic group) posted above, is now being ‘moderated’ …. hmmmm

    • Wing Nut

      Depends on how much sh1t you’re moving and the destination. We’ve done moves and found the big names such as Grace and Ridgeways were hell expensive. Second tier movers such as Australian Moving Logistics, who were recommended by a friend were very reasonable and prompt. We had to make a small claim and they were really good to deal with. No issues there. Either way, it’s a few grand for a 20ft ISO and of you’re moving cars, add about $800-1000 per car. Moving sucks.

      • GavinMEMBER

        I’m trying to get it on temp registration in the next week or 2. So if you want a go it might be possible. 😎

        • fisho

          In NSW a temp registration is only about $30 and can be for up to a week (from memory) and it is valid Interstate, no inspection necessary.

    • fisho

      If I were moving to a rural/semi rural property than I’d definitely buy a 20ft container.
      you can buy them for around $3K, get it dumped in your drive way or outside (might pi55 off the neighbors but hey you’re moving)
      If you don’t need a lot of this stuff day-to-day (as in garage stuff) than you can easily store the container for a month or more at various trucking / container moving yards. A good container is water proof and rodent proof and a really useful way to start off your new garage if this is a semi rural area than you can just put the container out back while you build/renovate the house. (Instant very sturdy lock up garage)

      Once the stuff is in a container you can get it picked-up and transported any time you choose.
      From my experience one 20 ft container is about enough space to move everything in a 2 bed room house or a reduced size 3 bedroom move.

    • hm520

      I used Kent last year – veyr professional job adn cheaper than than lesser service operators. They load it into a container on a truck and then can leave it at the depo for you until you need it at your destination. Another option is companies can leave a container at your joint, you pack it, they drive it and drop it off then you unload it – but might be hard in sydney.

      • davidjwalsh

        maybe too late Gav, but be careful with the ‘backloader ops’ out of Melbourne … the driver / crew base is now #ibrant and you can be seriously f*****d over …

        waiting to see if my earlier comment survives scrutiny …

        • GavinMEMBER

          I haven’t booked them yet. I might get the guy towing my car down with his van to take the expensive / valuable stuff and put the less expensive stuff in a taxibox.

  11. Jacob

    Rolls-Royce plans mini nuclear reactors by 2029 – BBC

    Thanks for the link Gunna.

    Environmentalists are divided over nuclear power, with some maintaining it is dangerous and expensive, while others say that to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 all technologies are needed.

    Mini nuclear stations can be mass manufactured and delivered in chunks on the back of a lorry, which makes costs more predictable.

    the approach would dramatically reduce the cost of building nuclear power sites, which would lead to cheaper electricity.

    6 hours ago:

    Renewable wind, solar, hydro and biofuels cannot fill the gap

    Unfortunately, economically viable hydropower is limited to certain geographical locations, and its potential for further expansion is strongly constrained by environmental, economic and social factors

    the share of hydropower could at best grow from 16% today, to 25% in 2050. Where will the other 75% come from?

    Solar panels produce no electricity at all at night

    https://www.asiatimes.com/2020/01/article/carbon-dioxides-scourge-advanced-nuclear-power/

  13. SachaMEMBER

    People who practice yoga contribute to white supremacy.
    Professor Shreena Gandhi:
    “…this modern-day trend of cultural appropriation of yoga is a continuation of white supremacy and colonialism, maintaining the pattern of white people consuming the stuff of culture that is convenient and portable, while ignoring the well-being and liberation of Indian people.”
    https://nypost.com/2018/01/29/people-who-practice-yoga-contribute-to-white-supremacy-professor-claims/

    • Freddy

      I didn’t realise a nuclear-armed republic with 1.3 billion people were still considered a colonial oppressed minority. It would explain the tears each time India get beaten in the colonial game of cricket.

          • Stewie GriffinMEMBER

            Some quick calculations:

            Total Order of Australia honor lists recipients 2020:

            837 Awards for General Division, 26 Military Division, 236 meritous awards, so around 1100 in total. So Arndt’s tribe scoop 41 in total – which amount to 4% of the total awards (3.7% to be more precise)…. sounds reasonable – or does it?

            Per the 2016 Australian census Australia’s total Juicy population was 91,000 out of a total population of 24m… or 0.38% of the population, so they appear to be OVER-REPRESENTED by a factor of 10.

            Can anyone explain this statistical aberration? If all people and races are equal, especially in terms of contribution to the service of Australia, then there should have been no more than 4 awards going to that particular tribe of folk.

            So either the statistical aberration is either due to nature i.e. genes and being smarter and consequently more involved in successful projects that do actually contribute to our collective wellbeing as Australians, or…. well….. the only other alternative is that there is something more sinister going on. Would you not agree Professor? Perhaps with your lens they wield disproportionate power?

            My personal belief is that it is probably due to the former, but as a die hard blank slatist I imagine you find that suggestion abhorrent and would be pushing the alternative view would you not?

            Culture matters – good to see that Ardnt’s values are being celebrated.

          • Stewie GriffinMEMBER

            Just found the complete list for the 2020 Australia day honors:

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Australia_Day_Honours

            Mentions for services to the “X” community:

            Juicy’s 16
            Catholic 0
            Protestant 0
            Church 0
            Muslim 1
            Sikh 0
            Italian 2
            Indian 1
            Greek 1

            Good to see that there is no disparity there in terms of service to a particular community vs Australia in general….

            Mazeltov! 

        • OlafMEMBER

          Luckily all men have influence. They are just one big homogenous group from the guy rummaging through bins in inner Sydney to the guy running a Big Four bank.
          Hope we can apply the same homogenous metric to other large groups.

          • Xin Jia

            Notice how feminists hold others collectively accountable, yet take no such equal accountability for themselves. They then talk about ‘equality’ out of the other side of the same mouth when they want to be given stuff, as if ‘equality’ were a one way flow to women. Unless that stuff of course is moral agency because women have a female privilege holiday on that. Feminists including male feminists don’t get to claim labels for themselves that they deliberately fail to live up to.

    • hm520

      She should stop culturally appropriating our ceramic toilets and return to sh!tting on the street like her rich culturalistic heritage

    • JimsCB

      Did she take up this concern with the many Indian Yogis that took these teachings to the west? Should we deny India knowledge acquired by the west on the grounds of cultural appropriation? What would “John Smith”, from fake Microsoft tech support, scam old ladies with if he couldn’t use Windows, or even access computer?

      On a serious note, how does that inanity make it onto the digital pages of a major publication? If it was published by some rando on medium it would still be laughable.

    • JasonMEMBER

      First they take Apu, now they want to take yoga.

      Actually, they keep yoga, just give us Apu back.

    • DominicMEMBER

      None of this sh* t surprises me anymore. Farting is raycist, I’m fairly certain.

      In the U.S. recently two Indian students beat the crap out of a black person and, you guessed it, white supremacy was to blame.

      The world is doomed.

  14. DivyaMEMBER

    Ok all. New low point here.
    My two year old just got a sudden fever today. Home doc turns up.. first question “have you been in contact with anyone who has been to china recently?”
    What the actual f*ck. My mouth went dry…
    Throat infection.. been asked to get a swab test on tuesday to be sure of what it is.

    • Freddy

      I doubt it. Too soon.

      I subscribe to Chris Martenson for his economic views. He just so happens to be a PHD in pathology. His tip was have some Elderberry on hand as it is proven to reduce the effects of viruses. Basically saying for a more serious virus it could make a subtle but important difference.

      Sambucol at your local chemist.

      • DivyaMEMBER

        Thanks. Had to also give neurofen a couple of hours ago to get the fever under control. Next one be Panadol in a bit… if that is normal i may sleep tonight.

    • Ronin8317MEMBER

      It’s a bit of hysteria at the moment. The question should be ‘have you been in contact with anyone who has been to Wuhan recently?’. If you look at the other provinces in China they are mostly under control right now with most of their patients originating from Wuhan, so it seems the secondary infections have been limited.

    • footsore

      That would be hard. At least the doctor did ask. It’s better that they be overly cautious than just assume that it is too early. I hope that it is just something that will be fixed up in no time.

      • DivyaMEMBER

        Nope. Still a fever. Neurofen and panadol only working to keep it a low temp, not actually getting rid of it. Swab tomorrow I suppose.
        I am crossing fingers and toes it is a general variety throat infection…

        • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

          Div My kids spent half their lives with a runny nose, cough, sore throat or temperature up untill they were 5 or 6.
          Kids are grubby.
          It’s highly unlikely your little one has got this nasty Corona bug.

          • DivyaMEMBER

            Yeah to be honest, Toddler seems to be dealing. I am a little concerned of the 6 month old.
            meanwhile…i get this email
            “Dear members of the UNSW community

            NSW Health has advised that a UNSW student has tested positive for the coronavirus.

            The student is in hospital in isolation.

            NSW Health has advised that the student adhered to their advice and precautions since arriving from Wuhan on 22 January. NSW Health has stated the student was not infectious on the plane.

            The student did not attend any classes at the University and stayed on her own in campus accommodation with no close contact before she was admitted to hospital.”

            Whatever a$$face how do you know they were not contagious on the plane because reports are that it can spread during incubation period and if they were not then they caught it from someone who was contagious.. and where is that person….

  15. steveMEMBER

    Contagious in 14 day incubation phase (unlike SARS).
    Schools closed for 2 weeks – aligns with this 14 day incubation period
    And its “ability to spread is getting stronger” – vague on details and who knows exactly what that means, but that doesn’t sound good.
    2,300 extra doctors and nurses deployed to Hubei to help – they sure are not being sent to help 1052 people with a minor cold-like illness.

    https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3047701/coronavirus-contagious-even-incubation-stage-chinas-health

    Does anyone think Xi knows more than China is letting on?

    https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
    2019 confirmed cases
    56 deaths
    49 recovered
    As is inevitable in the exponential growth phase, most cases are recent cases who are still infected (and infectious)
    Who knows what fatality rate will end up being. But could be higher than initial predictions.

      • BrettMEMBER

        CCP statistics…. That number represents 56 holes dug. Size of holes and number of occupants unspecified.

      • Djenka

        @ timmeh

        Yep, any gov will just state the death toll and announce “don’t worry people, 1 in 3 will die, please don’t panic, everything will be all right”
        Bob Marley song in the background… free merry jane for everyone.

    • Wing Nut

      Had a look at the ACT Health that was updated this morning (hat tip) and they’re essentially monitoring events in and out of the ACT. For all intensive purposes it’s business as usual.

      • Mining BoganMEMBER

        In writings about the rapture does it say anything about pandemics?

        Asking for an empathy lacking friend.

        • Arthur Schopenhauer

          Evangelical ’biblical scholars’ reading of the Gospel of Mathew think the rapture will precede the seven-year Tribulation, which will culminate in Christ’s second coming and be followed by a thousand-year Messianic Kingdom.

          The Tribulation is a relatively short period of time (7years) where everyone will experience worldwide hardships, disasters, famine, war, pain, and suffering, which will wipe out more than 75% of all life on the earth before the Second Coming takes place.

          This gives God a far bit of flexibility in dishing out disaster. Obviously, it started with the election of Abbott! 😀

          In the Rapture, the faithful are literally lifted into the sky by God before the Tribulation begins. (I’m yet to see anyone floating in the sky. We must be a godless bunch.)

          It’s got a seductive narrative arc, if you’re a corrupt, self serving fvcknuckle.

  20. Qualitative Easing

    This coronavirus thing has me worried. Well, it is a good thing we have a world class public hospital system that has plenty of capacity and isn’t overstretched by a freeze on hospital construction in a time of rampant mass immigration…

    Oh FVCK

    • Mining BoganMEMBER

      Is Scummo that close to losing his imaginary surplus that he’s willing to risk all just to keep the tourists coming?

      Sounds kinda desperate.

      • Arrow2MEMBER

        We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.

        …and we have decided that who is coming is virus-carriers, and the circumstances are that they also have money.

  21. Janet

    1918, when the Spanish Flue wiped out millions of people, it disportionately affected the young and the poor.
    Today, demographics have changed. So will it be the relatively fewer young and poor that ‘get it’, or the quickly arriving Old and ‘rich’?
    Perhaps we have a demographic clean-out of the unexpected kind on our hands?

    • Mining BoganMEMBER

      That came to mind earlier when reading somewhere that it’s mostly knocking over the 55+. Boomers will be screaming blue murder if their generation is being affected by poor gubmint policy. For once.

    • matthewMEMBER

      Many of the young were involved in world war one and were in poor physical health.Today it may be the malnourished obese that find themselves in a spot of difficulty.We shall see.Overall the response from our government and for that matter medical bodies has been a disgrace.This is a serious problem and potentially very serious which has been met by a complacent conflicted response.If I were for instance a hostess on Qantas even internally I would refuse to work until this became clearer what it all means.I mean your well-being is sort of important

    • fisho

      Who knows, maybe there is a god and this is the way he rewards self serving Boomers, serves us right.
      Personally I’m disgusted with the generational inequality that most Boomers cheer on as they engage in the mindless financial rape their own offspring.
      Maybe only a virus, that is not under human control, can right this wrong.

    • Janet

      A classic case of ‘having it all’ and it means nothing when you’re dead.
      None of us knows when the unexpected might happen. Life, eh…

        • Arrow2MEMBER

          No you d!ck. Not money. Not morally flawless either. But he led a far bigger life than most in terms of achievements, excellence, commitment, hard work, inspiring others, and leaving a mark upon the world.

          Put the cynicism aside for once.

          • skippy

            I still remember the whole wild pay thingy back a few decades ago and how libertarians reckoned if you – made it – nuff said. You know sports personalities and entertainment sorts betting a 1M bet on some golf, not to mention building castles, or becoming property developers slash IP barons – tis a short list.

            Remember all those that tried to defend Lance Armstrong, anywho its just another human, one that was in a helicopter flying in fog and bang. Its like as soon as someone with wealth dies a free market fairy falls from the sky … sigh.

          • Arrow2MEMBER

            Theres something wrong with you Skip. You’re obsessed with the money and wealth aspects of everything and you presume everyone else is too.

          • skippy

            No I’m concerned about the same things the Greeks were – as it were, and similarities with the Romans in regards with society. Wealth is just a score card, but my views are how the game is played and how does one quantify success. You know like Jonas Salk, could have become a billionaire and family in perpetuity, guess some would be fine with a Kardashian in the WH some day.

  25. Qualitative Easing

    Vibrancy overload in Tarniet!!!

    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/labor-factional-figure-punched-as-100-people-storm-western-suburbs-branch-meeting-20200126-p53uuz.html

    One source present said some of the Indian community became upset that Muslims had arrived and began demanding they leave.

    So much for ‘tolerance’ and ‘multiculturalism’. Oh that’s right, them’s just words to speak down to whitey with …

    And the whole thing was at an ALP branch meeting!!! Paging Ermo!!

    • GunnamattaMEMBER

      I caught the train from Geetroit to Melbourne Saturday for a binge drinking session. I sat in the ‘quiet carriage’ carriage and noticed that (even on a long weekend) the carriage really became chock a block after Tarneit and Wyndham Vale, and the carriage ceased to be ‘quiet’ with a variety of (not only Indian) music being played quite loudly.

      Then on the way back I got on the quiet carriage again, presumably stinking of large amounts of beer and a heavily garlic meal choice. The quiet carriage again was choccas from Spencer St, and a (quiet) Indian chap sat down gingerly beside me. What I noticed was he spent most of the time on his phone on some page where all he seemed to do was sort through lots of pictures of Australian passports – I kid you not he was looking at pictures/photos of Australian passports and swiping them, as though sorting them. I did want to ask what that was about but felt that if I opened my mouth he would get a blast of beer/garlic which could be offensive to some cultures. He got off at Tarneit where i caught a glimpse of the mad dash into the carpark by the local so as to avoid having to spend yonks waiting at the lights.

      The other thing the trip was notable for was reminder of just how crowded those recently flat grazing fields have become, and just how closely together they pack in those houses. On both the railway line and the Geelong rd (over at Pt Cook) they are building houses so close that anyone living close would be getting some serious noise/health effects from living that close. I cant believe there is a need for that sort of stuff in Australia, and think it a disgrace. I dont care whether they are migrants or not (and plenty wont be), the kids growing up in those joints abutting endless streams of traffic or the diesel locomotive every half an hour or so, will be Australian and I tend to the view we should be looking after them a touch better.

      • 2019 Ghost

        “What I noticed was he spent most of the time on his phone on some page where all he seemed to do was sort through lots of pictures of Australian passports – I kid you not he was looking at pictures/photos of Australian passports and swiping them, as though sorting them.”

        Maybe they are so worried about visas because each of them have to collect 25 visas.

      • GavinMEMBER

        Gunna I feel the same as you, can’t understand why we are building such inadequate and inappropriate housing and stuffing it full of imports and priced out locals. It’s shocking. This is why I went out to the Green suburbs of Melbourne to get away from that madness. I just hope it doesn’t spread to the Green belt suburbs, because I’ll be forced to move to somewhere else, at this rate it will either be Adelaide, WA, Tasmania.

        I really hate what this country is becoming, through Climate Denial, Drought, Greed, crappy housing solutions, unaffordable homes and rent and obscene living costs, gouging of the common man via insane taxes (but loop holes for the upper echelons) etc.. in some ways I’m thinking I may have to become an immigrant myself and move to Europe (places like Finland or Norway, Sweden)…where they seem to get it and do the right thing.

        • DominicMEMBER

          I went out with a Scandi lass for many years. It’s very civilised over there – socially and technologically very advanced. Finland, Sweden, Norway – they seem to have the secret sauce. The winters (near perpetual darkness) / summers (near perpetual light) take some getting used to. But snow driving is fun. I had stop myself doing doughnuts. Weeeee!

          Great spot for those who like their outdoors and water though. Spent many a summer in a lake-side wooden house, sauna on the lake, pontoon to tie the tinny up. No one around – peace and quiet. Nature at its finest. Great times.

          • DominicMEMBER

            @TrooDoh, yep, I think they’ve made a grave mistake but the problem is at least contained in various ghettoes (for now)

            I once read an article by a bureaucrat which was an interesting insight into the mindset of many of these pro-immigration European pollies. They believe (or believed) that welcoming these migrants in and setting them up with housing and welfare leads them to be extremely grateful and thus hard-working, loyal citizens. In fact this is not the case at all – initially perhaps, but after a time trapped in the welfare system, bleak job prospects, away from family and friends, reality descends and they become bitter that the ‘dream’ has become nightmare. And social problems erupt as this unhappiness spills over into unrest – and the children of these people often end up on the scrap heap as well with only a bleak future ahead of them.

            It should be noted that some cultures / races do better than others but that in itself is controversial in some parts as we are all ‘equal’ after all …

          • TrooDohMEMBER

            It seems to me that the welfare state and mass immigration are incompatible in the long run. Western welfare states were originally built around cohesive, high trust societies where people had a relatively high degree of affinity with, and thus sense of obligation to, their fellow citizens. However, thanks to rapid immigration inflows and other factors, Western countries are becoming far less cohesive and more fragmented. The sense of obligation to one’s fellow citizen is diminishing.

            There is also the question of financial sustainability. As argued here:

            “Mass immigration destroys the welfare state because immigrants receive more in benefits than they pay in taxes. This is not true for every immigrant—some never collect government handouts—but it is true for the overall immigrant population. Studies from across the Western world prove this point.

            A recent, and comprehensive study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that although immigration is (theoretically) revenue-neutral in America, not all immigrants are created equal. Half of all immigrants actually receive more in government assistance than they pay in taxes, but thankfully they are balanced out by the other half. Specifically, immigrants who came to America for family reasons, or arrived as refugees, cost a net present value of $170,000.

            Net present value is how much money the government would need to invest today, at a yield of inflation plus three percent, to pay for said immigrant’s tax deficit over the course of his expected lifetime. Of course, the government does not do this—it spends only as it receives. Therefore, looking at net present value creates artificially low expectations.

            According to the Heritage Foundation, each noneconomic immigrant more realistically costs a net of $476,000 in welfare payouts. And, of course, this does not account for any increases in government programs. Applying this more realistic figure to the original study means that immigrants consume far more in government services than they contribute to them. In fact, if immigration levels remain unchanged, those arriving over the next decade would cost American taxpayers a net of $1.9 trillion over their lifetimes. The welfare state is already struggling: immigration will make a bad problem worse.

            Another important study, conducted by Denmark’s Ministry of Finance, found that immigrants were a net drain on that nation’s welfare state. In fact, non-EU immigrants, and their descendants, consumed 59 percent of the tax surplus collected from native Danes. This is not surprising, since some 84 percent of all welfare recipients in Denmark are immigrants, or the direct descendants of immigrants. The bottom line: immigration is a net burden on Denmark.

            Likewise, a study conducted by Canada’s Fraser Institute, a think tank, found that mass immigration costs Canadian taxpayers some $24 billion per year—and this was using data from nearly a decade ago. The number has since increased significantly, as Canada has one of the highest immigration rates in the world.

            Finally, a study from the University College of London found that immigrants consumed far more in welfare than they paid in taxes. Specifically, the study looked at the Labour government’s mass immigration push between 1995 and 2011. They found that immigrants from the European Economic Area made a small, but positive net contribution to the British economy of £4.4 billion (or just over $6 billion) during the period. However, during the same period non-European immigrants (primarily from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa) cost the British economy a net £120 billion (or $165.5 billion).

            The origin-based economic differences are actually exacerbated by the UK’s generous welfare state: while European immigrants often left their extended families at home, to be cared for by their respective government, immigrants from the Third World generally brought their families with them, knowing that British taxpayers would care for them. From the immigrant’s perspective, this is a rational choice, but does it make sense for British taxpayers? No.

            Together, these studies show that mass immigration won’t save the welfare state, instead, it will hasten its insolvency.”

            https://amgreatness.com/2018/01/16/democrats-dilemma-immigration-welfare-state/

          • drsmithyMEMBER

            The welfare state is incompatible with neoliberalism, and particularly NAIRU.

            So long as we waste human potential in deference to profits, things will continue to get worse.

            The rest is noise.

            But the loonies on that site would hate the welfare state regardless of whatever else might be going on.

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      I’ve got my first meeting of the year this week.
      Hope I can still find that old length of iron pipe in the garage.

    • LSWCHPMEMBER

      Notice that after the comment about Muslims, someone else said no racism was involved.

      Muslims have achieved a marvellous psywar victory by getting westerners to conflate their religion with a race, so that anyone who opposes their foul ideology must automaticaly be a racist.

      Not all of us are so gullible. If you can convert to or from it, it ain’t a race.

  26. skippy

    Ronald Reagan’s “October Surprise” Plot Was Real After All

    A batch of quietly released documents confirms what many have long suspected: Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign worked behind the scenes to delay the release of US hostages in Iran, for the benefit of Reagan’s election campaign. It raises the question: When was the last time a Republican won a presidential election without the help of dirty tricks?

    https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/ronald-reagan-october-surprise-carter-iran-hostage-crisis-conspiracy

      • skippy

        You know the Clinton’s are Republicans too – right – ????? – Thirdway – Washington consensus DINO sorts following in the footsteps of the fundie free market republicans.

  27. Rich4MEMBER

    Today in smh.com.au we’ve got stories about I’m a celebrity, a helicopter crash, evacuating Australians from Wuhan, private school fees rising.

    What we don’t have in smh.com.au today are questions about our politicians allowing migration from Wuhan way too long after knowing about Coronavirus, potentially threatening 25 million Australians.

    Even our safety is now coming last.

    MSM ARE THE ENEMY.

    It’s time for the revolution to start.

  28. doctorX

    this coronavirus mania needs to stop

    in a month when it all goes quiet all of these doomers will pretend nothing has happened

    • Rich4MEMBER

      You know that’s the outcome do you?

      Doctor? Haha.

      I have no idea where this is going but caution should be the response. Our politicians have comprehensively failed Australia….Again. Far more than during the fires or any other modern event.

      Media says…..nothing.

      • doctorX

        we’ve seen this so many times in last decade or two
        and our politicians are going to use this as excuse for failing us again …

        BTW. this virus is going on for almost a month now in one of the most densely populated places in the world and only 50 or 200 or 2000 people died.

        • triageMEMBER

          As the mb poster, david, pointed out yesterday it wasn’t that many years ago – less than a decade ago – that a particularly nasty strain of the flu virus killed hundreds of thousands around the world and we all seemed to take it fairly well. Pandemics do still blight us but when there are tens of thousands karking it rather than a few score we lose the ability to absorb the enormity and danger of it all.

          • doctorX

            every year flu kills hundreds of thousands
            as we speak in germany dozens of people are dying every day from ordinary flu
            since new year 3000 died
            but that’s not something to be used to scare people around

        • desmodromicMEMBER

          H5N1 first emerged in Hong Kong in 1996 but didn’t really start to spread until Chinese NY in 2003, and then went global.

        • Ronin8317MEMBER

          It started off from animal to human, then after a few weeks it evolved to infect human to human. Now it further evolved so it can spread before the carrier shows any symptoms. That’s why the authorities in Wuhan and slow to respond : they didn’t realise that like SARS, the virus will evolve.

          • Djenka

            @ dr X

            Wuuut?

            Dint you see that ZH article from unnamed unknown nurse that claims virus mutated twice already and we are all to be dead 18 months from now because of climate change?

    • ceeMEMBER

      No. Regardless it’s going to be every economists and market analysts favourite excuse for missing expectation for the next year.

      • doctorX

        I’m a real pessimist but only when it comes to real and important things
        viruses are one of the biggest existential threats to humanity but not this one, this one is just a media stunt

        • matthewMEMBER

          As I said earlier there is no way the Chinese would lock down city’s with subsequent economic consequence unless there was a serious problem.Not sure if you are a doctor (I am)and this viral outbreak has all the characteristics of a pandemic

          • doctorX

            it is pandemic but not much worse than current flu pandemic in Germany

            when it comes to Chinese government reaction …. this can be an excellent excuse for the ongoing Chinese economic fall

          • steveMEMBER

            Agreed. You can probably surmise more from China’s actions than from the data they have released.

            They have not locked down cities for nothing.
            They are not sending 2,300 health workers to Hubei for a illness which is mild / trivial in the overwhelming number of people infected
            They are not building a new hospital for well people

            https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
            2118 infected – mostly new cases, have symptoms, and infectious
            56 dead (although SMH stating 80)
            52 recovered – presumably now symptom free

            Exponential growth means things start slowly and then suddenly take off. This may be what we are about to see.
            The classic example is a single algae in a lake on the 1st of the month. The algae then doubles in number each day such that by the 30th day of the month the month, the lake is completely covered with algae.
            On the 23rd of the month, the lake is only 1% covered and it looks like a nothing. It has spent 23 days getting to 1%. It then gets to 100% in the next 7.

        • GramusMEMBER

          You are not paying attention.
          They have not shut 56 million Chinese people in their cities for nothing.
          Taiwan has not closed it borders to Chinese travellers for nothing.
          Xi Jinping himself has not called the situation ‘grim and accelerating’ for nothing.

          The dead bodies lining the Wuhan red cross hospital corridors should tell you that this is not a media stunt.
          https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/1220731224051867648?s=20

          • matthewMEMBER

            Agree.If anything the Australian media has played this down not up.The governmental response as well as the medical professions has been almost non existent.This is being played down which makes me more concerned.
            Also the mortality rate as well as rate of severe illness requiring ICU type medical care is significantly worse than a normal influenza pandemic.I believe this to be a significant problem and do not believe we have the ability to interrupt its natural course.I suggest everyone on this blog start taking measures to mitigate risk(before everyone else does)

          • steveMEMBER

            Like any Ponzi scheme, the fatality rate can be kept low so long as you are diagnosing enough new cases. When you stop diagnosing new cases (either you contain it, or you run out of testing kits), then the true fatality rate becomes clear.

        • hm520

          If only the hysteria could be used to prepare for future real pandemics. We had someone show up to my hosp. with flu Sx and recently returned from WuTang – It wasn’t the bat virus. He was sent home to self isolate while awaiting the testing

  29. ITAgMEMBER

    I wonder if Pauline H is a little p..ed off with the lovely Bettina stealing her thunder (or OAM).

    Like the grants to gun clubs, virtue signalling to the invaluable marginal seat supporters.

    • OlafMEMBER

      Virtue signalling is a soft left, inner city phenomenon.
      A term like dog whistling is used when referring to marginal electorate voters. There is no virtue in dog whistling.

      • doctorX

        virtue signaling is not just left inner city phenomenon

        one of the most recent examples is twiggy’s 70m bush-fire charity donation to his own charity that pays nice wages to bunch of his family members, friends and mates’ family members

        • Mining BoganMEMBER

          Yes, $50m to climate change denial study. Even asked the good people of Cambodia for cash. Maybe they might give back some of the $55m Scummo gave them to take in a handful of asylum seekers.

          Yes Scummo, we remember everything.

          • happy valleyMEMBER

            And my gosh, he is putting together a very, very impressive list of memorables. He is throwing down the gauntlet to Malcolm who had memorables such as the $400m to GBRF, the quicker, sooner, cheaper NBN, the $50+++++ Bn sub project; and to Abbotolypse for knighthoods to princes, etc etc. And that’s before we even start to talk about Labor PMs, whose fault everything is.

          • drsmithyMEMBER

            Every time in the last twenty years people have thought things couldn’t get any worse, a Liberal politician has pushed his way to the front and said “hold my beer”.

          • Wing Nut

            You know the outcome when the fvckwit in chief has already said arsonists and back burning are the main cause of these fires. What a cvnt.

        • ITAgMEMBER

          Obviously Twiggy is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. He retracted his early statements about arsonists and fuel loads being a major cause of fires but when he got to London, forgot that he already denied the early statement. Poor fellow, the downside of having lots of money.

        • DominicMEMBER

          Twiggy’s chariddy mate is just a common garden rort – nothing to do with virtue. Or signalling.

          There are an awful lot of charities set up for a similar purpose – to create paying jobs.

          • doctorX

            I know, his charity is just there to hide billions from taxman (his charity has “revenue” of $750m per year and spends $70m on charity programs and stashes the rest in “other financial assets”)

            but while others hide their “charity work” Twiggy goes around and brags about it – clear case of virtue signaling

    • TrooDohMEMBER

      You’d think Pauline would be jumping all over ScoMo’s reckless open borders policy with China during the midst of a coronavirus outbreak.

      No word.

      Only Senator Rex Patrick has made some noise to date.

    • jsMEMBER

      Remember being driven through a swarm( smaller than that one) I northern Victoria when I was a teenager
      – minimal visibility.
      – stopping intermittently to scrape the locusts, both dead and alive, off the ventilation in front of the car radiator. It would be several locusts thick.
      I thought it was pretty exciting, although I didn’t realise they were eating everything in their path.

    • reusachtigeMEMBER

      Some of the big Aussie swarms are 100s of km long but yeah it’s a sign of endtimes just like the fires have never happened before and are the sign of climate change. LOLOLOL

  31. footsore

    If you have fond memories of Gremlins, Leprechaun and Alien I recommend checking out the new film Snatchers. It’s good, daft, gory fun.

      • footsore

        I can’t believe I forgot Evil Dead. Sam Raimi is the favorite director of the directors of this one. They avoid CGI, have heaps of deadpan comedy and make it gory.
        If you like surreal horror check out Mandy. That one blew my mind. Colour out of Space also looks like it is going to be good.

  32. V

    The most bizarre thing about the attempt to quarantine Wuhan, is all the Western governments now hastily arranging charter flights to go in there and pick up ‘their’ citizens. Talk about missing the point.

    • ITAgMEMBER

      Perhaps they will pump “disinfecting” air thru the vents on the way back?
      Yes, I wonder how many old Australians have been caught there?

      My most vivid memory of Wuhan when visiting many years ago was the look on my young kids’ faces as the small dead turtles in the bottom of their turtle soup became clear as they worked their way into it.

      • TailorTrashMEMBER

        I once was “treated “ to that great delicacy……..but it was chefed up with the baby Turtle perched on the edge of the bowl looking at me accusingly ..and the host looking at me intently to ensure I enjoyed the great honour ……..gastly……………the things one does in the name of cultural sensitivity …..

        • skippy

          Obviously you two panty waists never had Sea Turtle eggs with hot sauce right out of the sand Costa Rico style … even comes in its own hermetically sealed non plastic bag …

        • Djenka

          image the agony a small sparrow endures whilst being force fed until near burst and then drowned in armagnac (similar to cognac) to be roasted…

          These chinese are really weird.

          • TailorTrashMEMBER

            And we wonder why atrocities happen in the world …Germany ….Cambodia …..Bosnia …..Rwanda …..if we treat animals so bad …it says a lot ….
            There is a video on YouTube of Chinese eating live rats ….says it all ….but who are we to judge ?

            Chinese have a thing about food
            Japanese have a thing about sex
            Swedish have a thing a bout cleanliness
            Indians have a thing about weddings
            English have a thing about class
            Irish have a thing about English
            Scottish ditto
            Welsh …..not sure

            Strayans have a thing about … property

            Right Reusa ?

          • 2019 Ghost

            Where would I have to go to be able to eat this? Is there a restaurant in Paris I can find on Google Maps, or do I need to go to some old aristocrat’s chateau near Avignon?

    • TrooDohMEMBER

      How many Chinese with Australian citizenship are currently in China? Is the Australian government going to extract them all if they request assistance?

  38. TerryMEMBER

    I work in a school and just got an email saying that I needed to tell them if I had been to China over the holiday break and that any student who has been to China will need to report that to the school. Yet our government – she’ll be right mate!

  39. boomengineeringMEMBER

    Had a nanna today after my sour grapes episode this morn

    SOUR GRAPES.
    After 1 cycling lap of N Head hill, woke the son to go spearing (3.5hrs in the water). Rocked off at the tip of Long Reef avoiding jumping onto rocks using swell and immediately separated which continued until 1 klm of separation. A lot of bait fish around was a good sign. School of Kingies, damm, missed, too much power on the rubbers *the more power the less accuracy.
    Oh well they were only barely legal anyway.

    Have to get tools ready for Blacktown electro /hydraulic radial braking system tomorrow. bummer. Oh well long nannas are bad for you anyhow, and still got weights to do yet as well.
    Could always have a drink with Ermo on the way back, oh wait does he drink orange juice.?
    Could see Reusa but he may get excited with the mention of barely minimum using rubbers.

    • boomengineeringMEMBER

      Could see Reusa but he may get excited at the mention of barely legal using rubbers.

    • Frostilicus

      Neoliberalism is indeed a disease … Long period of incubation and highly communicable. It is indeed killing the host.

  44. IanMEMBER

    It’s inexcusable – then comes the excuse – which is by no means an excuse – except for the following excuse..

    “This behaviour is inexcusable, and I am absolutely devastated and embarrassed to find myself in this position. It has been a very difficult time for me the last few weeks dealing with the break-up of my long-term relationship. This is by no means an excuse for my behaviour but I feel the emotional turmoil I have been going through has impacted my decision making. I am extremely sorry for my actions.”

    https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/celebrity-trainer-michelle-bridges-midrange-drink-driving-charge-with-son-in-car/news-story/36ff35ef2c49556fcfa6b427e203b600

    • DylanMEMBER

      So it’s 11 in the morning: is this a wake up drink or yhe come down from a full on bender from the night before? Or is this part of a 12 week challenge?

    • Mining BoganMEMBER

      That’s a tad harsh. The rape story got plenty of airing today.

      I wonder if she wrote anything about Bezos before he bought the paper.

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      ABC ran with this celebrity death story for ages.
      All these BS tributes from other Celebrities took up the space of about 3 real news stories.
      Fking pathetic,…does anyone even watch Basketball in Australia?
      I’d never even heard of the Guy.

      Maybe I haven’t been properly indoctrinated enough, into a Love of Professional sports, to be considered a Proper Australian

      Sigh
      https://youtu.be/Vz1nIHv6P6Q

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      “Washington Post journalist is suspended after tweeting a link to a 2016 story about Kobe Bryant’s rape case”

      She obviously forgot to adhere to the rules of the Intersectional hierarchy of oppression.
      If it was a “White” sports Star the main thrust of all reporting would have been to Focus and call out all the past transgressions of the deceased celebrity.

      Maybe she just forgot she was writing about a “Black” guy

  46. gauntface

    Articles like this really this really make me angry: https://time.com/5770904/wuhan-coronavirus-wild-animals/ (Entitled: The West Blames the Wuhan Coronavirus on China’s Love of Eating Wild Animals. The Truth Is More Complex)
    The article states “we need to be mindful of picking on or condemning cultural practices”
    So because China has a “cultural practice” of “wet markets” (so called because there’s so much blood and guts they need to drench the floors in water constantly) where wild animals alive and dead are sold in close contact with humans, we can’t condemn them? Even though these markets have been a proven incubator for new strains of deadly virus’ in the past?
    I say China can stick their cultural practices where the sub don’t shine. Especially when the cultural practices are sick, cruel and disgusting like the “wet Markets” and the desire to eat exotic animals that drives their existence.

  48. IanMEMBER

    When the BIS talked about a ‘green swan’ event recently – did they mean hospital staff in green scrubs.

  50. CharlieM

    So what are you guys doing to prepare for this virus? I have masks, 2 weeks worth of food and started eating raw garlic. I still gotta go to work though and talk to people many of which are Chinese. I worry for my young kids though. What’s everyone else doing?

    • ErmingtonPlumbingMEMBER

      I’m going to keep the kids away from School this week.
      They’ll miss 3 days.
      The netball trials/grading for the Daughter on Sunday is a bit of a Worry.
      Haven’t decided beyond the Weekend.
      Hopefully a lot more information will be available by then.

      • Ronin8317MEMBER

        Let’s hope families who came back from China in your school will ‘do the right thing’ and quarantine themselves for two weeks.

      • TailorTrashMEMBER

        Ermo ..,,.keep your kids out of school as long as you think is right …..stand up for your strayan values as you see fit … and if they want to send you to jail…….fight it ..,,you will have much support from the real quiet Australians

        And in the absence of leadership from Scotty from Marketing and Dutton from “Border force “ …..who could blame you . ….

    • GavinMEMBER

      My work trip to Macau is cancelled. Ok with it. Since I hate the place. Think of Vegas but instead of Americans it’s all Chinese and smog. Depressing place. I was gonna go to Honkers but wary of it now.

  51. steveMEMBER

    https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/26/coronavirus-could-infect-100000-globally-experts-warn

    UK Public Health expert estimates number of infected people to be between 30,000 and 200,000, with a best guess or point estimate of 100,000.

    The fairly long incubation period of 14 days means there is a huge lag.

    The nature of these outbreaks is that the horse has usually bolted before anyone is aware.

    Despite these estimates (which our government will have), very little is being done to try and reduce the spread.

    The only unknown is the fatality rate. Data so far suggests around 2%. But I suspect this will drift up a bit. A low fatality rate early on is just how the epidemiology and stardust work.

    • TrooDohMEMBER

      I believe cases have now been picked up in Nepal and India. Can you imagine trying to stop this thing spreading through Indian slums?

      • TailorTrashMEMBER

        Just as well such things don’t exist in in the glittering high rises of Strayan cities …..