Wednesday 28 December 2022

Ry Cooder

 Ry Cooder is one of my favourites and Paris Texas is one of the greatest soundtracks. Here he is live with David Laidley doing paris texas live. Just wow




Sunday 25 December 2022

Blue Oyster Cult

 This is not the time for writing so enjoy Blue Oyster Cult live






Thursday 22 December 2022

Around the Traps 23/12/22 Christmas edition

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Econometrics

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox wonk

Wednesday 21 December 2022

Sport

 Why not write about the two sports I love in one of my last posts for the year.

Football

We all love the World Cup and it became better that Australia did so surprisingly well. Argentina only beat us because of our mistakes!

The Best team, Brazil, di not win but that happens. It was pleasing Messi eventually won a world cup. By the way Neither Messi, Maradona or Pele' were ever the best player in football. Johan Cruyff was easily the best player I have ever seen. Pace, skill, creativity and more.

The World cup also saw the decline of Martin Tyler and it was sad to see and hear.

Australian football then blows up by giving Sydney the next three grand finals , an unbelievably stupid decision for the only national sport and then an A-League game is abandoned.

Cricket

England were humiliated in Australia last summer. they were just as bad against the West Indies. Change the captain and coach and hey presto they are playing great test cricket. They bat with verve and get runs in short time and then their bowlers take 20 wickets. It is an amazing turnaround. Stokes is seemingly a natural skipper. The fact he can inspire by batting or bowling is a bonus.

I can only complain why can the poms talk with intelligence about cricket but Australians resort to blokiness when doing so



Sunday 18 December 2022

Peer Review

 Courtesy of Nick Gruen's fantastic weekly e-mail here is the-rise-and-fall-of-peer-review

Excellent and provocative reading

Thursday 15 December 2022

Around the Traps 16/12/22

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Econometrics

  • nuttin

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox Wonk

Wednesday 14 December 2022

Gough Whitlam revisited

 THIS is in essence a book review but still interesting.

Let me put my cards on the table.

Whitlam's grand plan was economic rationalism personified. He was inspired by the Vernon committee. He was also a Rattigan man.

When he came to government most people in the suburbs let alone the outer suburbs where Whitlam lived did not have sewerage for toilets and had to go outdoors to a dunny.

We spent a lamentable amount on education.

Whitlam's policies were not the problem. It was the haste to implement them all at once. He was also too sentimental. Bill Hayden should have been treasurer at the beginning but Whitlam chose Frank Crean. There were others as well.

This is why in the end Whitlam was a failure as a PM.

Tuesday 13 December 2022

Problems of getting a new grid

 You need a new grid when you change to renewables as EVERYONE knew we had to.

THIS article examines getting enough skilled labour to do it.

Monday 12 December 2022

covid

 A timely article on trying to avoid catching covid. The more you catch it the greater the odds you will get long covid

Lets add THIS as well

Sunday 11 December 2022

Trump V Biden

 Via Nick Gruen's fantastic weekly e-mail HERE is a comparison so to speak of biden V  Trump using family connections.

Funny but scary

Thursday 8 December 2022

Around the Traps 9/12/22

 It is time for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Econometrics

  • nuttin

Vox Wonk

Wednesday 7 December 2022

Fossil Fuel obscene profits

 Tim Buckley writes an article everyone should read.  And the ALP government does little at all!

Tuesday 6 December 2022

Nuclear Fusion power

 A really interesting article on whether nuclear fusion power is feasible or ont.

Monday 5 December 2022

Medicare

 The Grattan Institute , unquestionably the best think tank in the business, has released a new paper on reforming medicare. It is a good read. I have linked the conversation article if you do not have the time.

Sunday 4 December 2022

The Socceroos did us proud

Before I start I want to complain. My two boys are in Singapore and watched this match with the incomparable and possibly the greatest commentator of all time, Peter Drury, doing the commentary. SBS had David Basheer who isn't even in the top three in australia. True football fans would have wanted Drury. SBS should ditch Basheer and leave us with the pommy commentators. They are the best and if Drury is doing our game publicies it to the hilt!

The socceroos did us proud. After an uncertain start ( that fooled me) they played well.

The defeat against Argentina was to be expected. They are rated number 3 for a reason and they do have the best player in the world!

We lost 2:1. Those two goals came from:

  • a free kick that should not have occurred in that part of the field
  • Ryan's stuff up came from two back passes that should not have happened
We created some good chances and almost pulled a draw from being 2:0 down. Given our lack of talent this was extraordinary.

Looking forward to the next World cup we need a left back, a few midfielders particularly a defensive one, and a striker.

We need better coaches in the A-League and a better system to discover new talent and then to put that potential into practice. We also need better guidance for Australians going overseas.

Well done fellahs!!

Thursday 1 December 2022

Around the Traps 2/12/22

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Ausssie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Econometrics

  • nuttin

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox Wonk

Wednesday 30 November 2022

I am thankful I was wrong

 The last two games by the Arnieroos have been a stark change to the first.

The defence which was full of holes has tightened up held its shape and not let in a goal despite close shaves.  The midfield has run itself ragged chasing the ball.  We have created chanced when having the ball despite having limited possession.

The substitutes made sense and there was a clear strategy.

Thus far we have scored three goals from broken play.  Harry Souttar has not just been sensational but quite inspirational in defence. Every tackle and head was cheered this morning.

Make no mistake getting into the final 16 is much better now than in 2006. We then had most of the team playing regularly in the 4 major leagues.  Not today.

We beat Denmark, a very good team. We withstood the early onslaught when it appeared we were affected by the work we put into the Tunisia game, held our heads high and began to make inroads. The goal by Leckie (who had a poor game) was a beauty.

Now on to sunday morning and Argentina.

Any boos who sacks anybody today for being late is a bum as Bob Hawke would say

Tuesday 29 November 2022

Monday 28 November 2022

Sunday 27 November 2022

the Victorian election

 Here are some takeaways from the election.

My view is always to vote against a sitting government after two terms even if the opposition looks terrible. Tony Abbott anyone?
Thus I do not regard this return of the ALP as good for Victoria.

Thursday 24 November 2022

Around the Traps 25/11/22

 It is time again for Around the Traps.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Oy,Oy,Oy

Northern America

Europe

Asia

Wonk

General

Climate

Andrew Gelman ( mainly stats)

Econometrics

Dianne Coyle ( quirky + book reviews)

Vox Wonk