With a fortnight ago before the resumption of parliament, and what I presume will be the return of Newspoll to accompany it, two items to kick off a new week:
• The Australian reports SEC Newgate’s monthly Mood of the Nation survey finds “nearly four out of every ten” respondents believe the new government has done an excellent or good job so far, with 31% choosing the middle option of “fair” and 26% going for poor or very poor. It also finds a sharp increase in expectations that the economy will get worse over the next three months, up from 36% a month ago to 57%, with only 8% expecting it to improve, down from 13%. Given a long list of potential contributors to rising electricity prices, 42% thought “Morrison government inaction” a “large contributor” compared with 30% for “Albanese government inaction”.
Forty-seven per cent felt the Reserve Bank’s 0.5% interest rate hike last month (as distinct from the second hike last week) appropriate, with 31% thinking it too high and 9% too low. Sixty per cent said they were positive about transitioning to renewables and 55% believed progress had been too slow, compared with only 19% for negative and 17% for too fast. Sixty-one percent rated the 5.2% minimum wage increase appropriate, with 29% thinking it too low and only 10% too high. Regular questions on issue salience recorded mounting concern over cost of living, now rated extremely important by 68% (up five on last month), moving ahead of health care (down three to 61%). Forty-two per cent rated Labor best to manage the issue, compared with 23% for the Coalition. The survey was conducted June 23 and 27 from a sample of 1201.
• Linda Silmalis of the Sunday Telegraph reports “fresh gossip in Canberra this week” that Andrew Constance, the former state government minister who narrowly failed in his bid for Gilmore at the May 21 federal election, could be a nominee to fill the New South Wales Senate vacancy that will be created if rumours of Marise Payne’s imminent retirement come to pass. Others who reportedly might be interested include Dave Sharma and Fiona Martin, also on the job market after their respective defeats in Wentworth and Reid.
“The biggest problem with space travel is that it will be very limited until we can develop a means of traveling faster than the speed of light.”
The “speed of light” seems to be built into the very fabric of the Universe as a basic property of space-time. The laws of physics say it can’t be exceeded – not that it’s very difficult, but that it just can’t happen. Einstein has a way of being proved right and his theory has had more tests than any Labor leader.
Maybe there is a new undiscovered physics we don’t know about. Of course we don’t know what we don’t know.
Barney in Cherating @ #650 Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 – 6:51 pm
Bowen: Renewable energy cannot be manipulated across borders like fossil fuels can.
Albanese: I have an idea, let’s sell our renewable energy across borders to our neighbours!
Bowen: What a great idea, boss! 🙁
Came across this a little while ago.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1493999461676113922
Valid criticisms of JRC’s maglev line under construction. Personally, I think it will work, will be limited commercially (high prices) and the worst part is that they’ve spent so long designing it, that the technology is already dated. Far better superconductor materials for one thing.
Cud,
Yep, anything that moves forward our knowledge and abilities in this area has many positives, but without greater than light speed travel we’re restricted to our inner solar system.
Cud Chewer:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:48 pm
Really, you don’t think the site’s had enough of Mars after last night, pi’s inter-reaction today with Dandy?
Steve
PBS Space Time does really nice videos..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msVuCEs8Ydo
Mavis
I raise the question because its conspicuous by the fact that no one wants to look it in the face. Everyone argues about how hard it is to colonise Mars. No one ask the obvious – is there a good reason to do so? Its just an act of faith to many.
Cud,
Let’s tag team. You’re in, fella!
Barney
Yes, we are restricted to the solar system. Probably forever. That has implications, don’t ya think? 🙂
Dandy
I’m only going to engage with people who are civil and curious.
Generational Ships….Seeder ships etc are all ways around that pesky speed of light hokum….
Player Onesays:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:55 pm
Do you even stop think before you type?
Australia is in the fortunate position of having the potential to generate all our power needs and more from renewables.
Not every country is in this position, so developing export markets makes perfect sense, especially if it helps to reduce that country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
It is a global issue after all.
Beaglie
Generational ships the size of O’Neil cylinders maybe. But to what end?
So we can go off and multiply and meet up with the Galactic EPA?
Barney in Cherating says:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Cud,
Yep, anything that moves forward our knowledge and abilities in this area has many positives, but without greater than light speed travel we’re restricted to our inner solar system.
__________
Why? At half the speed of light we could be at Alpha Centauri in 8 years.
”
Steve777says:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:53 pm
“The biggest problem with space travel is that it will be very limited until we can develop a means of traveling faster than the speed of light.”
The “speed of light” seems to be built into the very fabric of the Universe as a basic property of space-time. The laws of physics say it can’t be exceeded – not that it’s very difficult, but that it just can’t happen. Einstein has a way of being proved right and his theory has had more tests than any Labor leader.
Maybe there is a new undiscovered physics we don’t know about. Of course we don’t know what we don’t know.
”
As Rumsfeld said
“There are known knowns, known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns”
Whether we cannot exceed ‘speed of light ‘ currently comes under the category of ‘known knowns’ as per Einstein theory but some scientists argue it is under the category of ‘known unknowns’. But who knows there may be some laws of physics, which come under the category of unknown unknowns and which can be deciphered only by space travel and allow us to exceed ‘speed of light’. 🙂
Dandy
What do you think of the graphite-aluminium fudge cakes they’re promoting lately (miscibility gap alloys)? Last time I did a back of the envelope I figured the raw materials make it a bit expensive for electricity storage, but ok for a compact heat store. What’s your take?
”
Barney in Cheratingsays:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Cud,
Yep, anything that moves forward our knowledge and abilities in this area has many positives, but without greater than light speed travel we’re restricted to our inner solar system.
”
Then we are left with only ‘Worm Holes’ as depicted in ‘Stargate’ for space travel. 🙂
Ven
One of my favourite weapons from the Star Trek universe was the Krenim Weapon Ship. Capable of reaching back in time and erasing things entirely from space-time. Damn, I want one of those 🙂
Now, I’m pretty sure that if we could invent superluminal drive, we’d also make even nastier things possible.
p.s. What I’m saying here is that the biggest challenge we face is actually becoming a civilised species in the first place.
Cud Chewer:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:01 pm
Yes, but this site’s devoted to psephology – is it not? – with occasional references to the solar system, and other disciplines.
“I raise the question because its conspicuous by the fact that no one wants to look it in the face. Everyone argues about how hard it is to colonise Mars. No one ask the obvious – is there a good reason to do so? Its just an act of faith to many.”
I’m pretty sure all the evidence is that there is currently no good reason to do it, but to the extent it might attract Elon Musk and his moronic followers and isolate them on Mars it is well worth encouraging. I fear Elon Musk is too smart to fall for his own con, but we can hope.
Mavis
And legal commentary.. and cats and dogs.. and…
.. and even cricket ffs! 🙂
Ven,
If theoretical physicist can develop a unified theory then we will be a lot closer to understanding the possibilities. It’s not just traveling the huge distances, but also having the ability to effectively communicate over them.
Barney in Cherating @ #662 Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 – 7:08 pm
Sure. Let’s just hope our customers are particularly stupid, right?
the goal of such ships maybe to prolong the existance of Earthly life in all is forms….the Earth will become uninhabitable in just a mere 500 million years as the sun grows ever hoter toward its final expansion phase in a few billion years….uncomfortably soon for those of us planninbg to live forever
Cult of anti-musk logic:
I neither understand nor like X, ergo X has no value.
… but it’s even worse than that really :
I don’t like X, X makes Y, ergo Y has no value.
WWP
The scary part is that Elon actually believes in the whole Mars-as-a-business-proposition thing.
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/11/1110916343/twitter-to-sue-elon-musk
Thinking about this from Musk’s perspective. If you’re forced to buy something you don’t want, you’ve got four scenarios.
#1/ Fight the purchase and lose with damages but no purchase.
$cost1 = $legal expenses + $damages
#2/ Fight the purchase and lose with damages and forced purchases.
$cost2 = $legal expenses + $damages + $purchase
#3/ Buy it and keep it.
$cost3 = $purchase
#4/ But it and sell it again.
$cost4 = $purchase – $sell
Given that you don’t want the thing, #3 seems unlikely. So you’d chose the smallest of $cost1, $cost2 or $cost4. $cost2 will always be bigger than $cost4. So which is smallest, $cost1 or $cost4? The net valuation of twitter (Feb 2022) was $20B. But it’s only worth what someone will pay for it. So given all the hoo hah, it may not be even that. But being generous lets say $20B. So $cost4 would be the order of $26B ($46B-$20B). How many years could you tie something up for with $26B in legal fees?
Conclusions: No purchase. Lawyers win.
True though Mavis. I’ve shared my piece on space exploration. I shall refrain from overtly sharing unless there’s some particularly exciting ‘splodey action. Or I’m referred to directly. I have no problem defending my opinion. What sadly happens with this and some other examples, is that it’s used as a tactic to derail discussions on other subjects. Only sometimes, of course. I have no control over those ones.
LR
Agreed.
Cud Chewersays:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 6:29 pm
Its also noted that Albo is making a bad decision cutting covid sick leave payments and its probably time one of his expert economists figured out that mask wearing will save money.
_____________________
A stupid decision from the Albanese govt.
Player Onesays:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Being able to recognise your abilities is a sign of intelligence.
Stupidity would be to then try and do something you know you are not capable of.
An extremely well informed blogger explaining “Operation NovoRossiya” – the propaganda war setting the stage for this years invasion.
https://russianpropagandabot.blogspot.com/2022/04/declassidied-operation-novorossiya.html
Cud Chewer:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:26 pm
[‘Mavis
And legal commentary.. and cats and dogs.. and…
.. and even cricket ffs! ‘]
You make a sound point. I usually talk legal when I’m invited – eg, BK – or where the advice is so misplaced, it must be countered. I categorically refuse to name him/her.
Cud Chewer says:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Mavis
And legal commentary.. and cats and dogs.. and…
.. and even cricket ffs!
…………….
And weather, not even of the unprecedented climate change political type.
Carry on cud
Drizzling and cold since noon,
only venturing out to check the mail.
I’m not doing that again!
😛
Cherating, 31 and overcast.
Time for my afternoon swim. 🙂
Hey Barney
Did they kick you out of *another* city?
(duck)
CC,
Thermal energy storage is good and under utilised. If only we had a supercritical CO2 turbine in production.
Using latent heat is clever and drastically improves energy density.
Using expensive materials is questionable, but if it is related to how much power can be drawn from the material then perhaps it makes sense, i.e. at high temperatures like the melting point of Al.
Otherwise use water or wax for latent heat energy storage, or rocks/sand/old concrete where physical scale is possible.
But I’m sure we’ve had this conversation before!
Yes, but this site’s devoted to psephology – is it not? – with occasional references to the solar system, and other disciplines.
We’ve had discussions on tennis, cricket, AFL. Why not Mars?
Sydney is enjoyed a brief iterpluvial today, mostly sunny, 8-18°.
Windhover:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:45 pm
[‘And weather, not even of the unprecedented climate change political type.
Carry on cud’]
Is there more to come, without which is somewhat pedestrian?
Pepys.
“Thinking about this from Musk’s perspective. If you’re forced to buy something you don’t want, you’ve got four scenarios.
#1/ Fight the purchase and lose with damages but no purchase.
$cost1 = $legal expenses + $damages
#2/ Fight the purchase and lose with damages and forced purchases.
$cost2 = $legal expenses + $damages + $purchase
#3/ Buy it and keep it.
$cost3 = $purchase
#4/ But it and sell it again.
$cost4 = $purchase – $sell
Given that you don’t want the thing, #3 seems unlikely. So you’d chose the smallest of $cost1, $cost2 or $cost4. $cost2 will always be bigger than $cost4. So which is smallest, $cost1 or $cost4? The net valuation of twitter (Feb 2022) was $20B. But it’s only worth what someone will pay for it. So given all the hoo hah, it may not be even that. But being generous lets say $20B. So $cost4 would be the order of $26B ($46B-$20B). How many years could you tie something up for with $26B in legal fees?
Conclusions: No purchase. Lawyers win.”
He was never going to buy it. The only question is whether the SEC and the courts punish him for this disgraceful episode.
If there was any justice in the US, and the solar cities judgment shows there really isn’t, he’d be facing a huge payday.
Boerwar at 6.30 pm
Porky is not being honest when he says he “followed the process”. Clearly the process followed him, or, to be more precise, due process was not followed so that Porky could get his bite at the Big Apple. After all, he noticed that Joe (“the age of entitlement is over”) Hockey got a 5 year excursion to DC. As Porky saw it, what could be fairer for him than creating a useless job in NY that he would be entitled to?
The little god-botherer Amy Brown will be taken to the cleaners as the fall girl, Ms West having let the cat out of the bag with the precious present line. The Porky saga may have some time to run. You have to wonder how leader who wasn’t a work experience Premier would handle it, e.g. Peter Beattie. He would not have let Porky hang around after the koala-killing ultimatum, let alone get a present. It would be all ‘Jobs, Jobs and due process’, not ‘Pork, Boys and Jobs’ in that order.
It will be disappointing if ICAC has been asleep at the wheel after listening in to Dashing Daryl from Wagga. What is remarkable is that incriminating emails have been kept, not lost. A sign of arrogance.
“Its also noted that Albo is making a bad decision cutting covid sick leave payments and its probably time one of his expert economists figured out that mask wearing will save money.”
Stupid politics, stupid policy. Very west wing brain.
Is it true that there is currently a run on the banks in China?
Jennifer Zeng 曾錚
@jenniferatntd
This is huge. Don’t know how this will end. Henan bank is NOT the only one that is having problems with liquidity. All four Chinese banks are having the same issue. Some depositors found they can save and can NOT withdraw money with their bank cards.
#bankrun #China #CCP
https://twitter.com/jenniferatntd/status/1546168180388806656?s=20
“Is it true that there is currently a run on the banks in China?”
The PRC have been pumping out liquidity at an unbelievable rate in order to hit GDP growth targets i.e. by inflation and low quality loans: https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2022/07/china-pukes-credit-to-nowhere/
Interest rates rises were always going to squeeze them. Now it seems that they are approaching their Minsky moment.
So yeah, it could be properly happening this time.
Taylormade @ #680 Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 – 7:37 pm
The Vic Govt gives 7 days sick leave to casuals and carers who don’t otherwise have sick leave.
Cud Chewersays:
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 7:57 pm
:loll:
Like everywhere else I moved on when the time was right.
If Vic CHO Brett Sutton recommends wearing a mask, I don’t need it to be mandated. I’ll wear the mask. You’d be a fool not to.
Barney in Cherating @ #681 Tuesday, July 12th, 2022 – 7:38 pm
Like you and understanding climate change?