onetrack

The Chinese have been purchasing high quality assets in Australia for the last 20-25 years. They own a sizeable portion of our housing, another sizeable portion of our agricultural and pastoral land, and many businesses producing everything from minerals to timbers, to grain processing, dairy, meat and sugar.

The Chinese have invested over $10B alone, just into the Sino Iron Magnetite mine in W.A. They have a 99 yr lease on the Port of Darwin, own cattle stations, vast areas of farmland in the W.A. wheatbelt (as well as other States), and are one of the largest operator in the Ord River Irrigation Area - where they are spending $700M, including $450M on a new sugar mill.

Company names to look up include Beidahuang Group, COFCO, New Hope Group, Bright Food, Shanghai Zhongfu, Shandong Ruyi Group, and Luzhou Laojiao.

But if you really want to see who has the greatest influence and investment in Australia, you only need to look at our Big Brother on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

https://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/economy/chinese-us-influence/

The magnificent Doble Bros Steamers are still quite a viable design, and nearly all the Doble Steamers built, have survived.

They were exceptionally fast, were very quiet, had enormous range, were mechanically simple, and were exceptionally durable.

The Doble Detroit steamer had key-start ignition, and could fire up in 90 seconds.

But the major reasons the Doble Steamer never survived, were;

1. The exceptional perfection of Abner Doble, which resulted in him continually tinkering with design modifications, rather than concentrating on producing one model in serious numbers.

2. 90 seconds was still too long to wait for ignition, for car owners who wanted virtually instant ignition, as IC engines produced.

3. The enormous cost of the Doble cars, due to the Dobles need to build everything from the best and most expensive materials.

4. The lawsuit over stock manipulation by Abner Doble, based on a technicality, effectively bankrupted the Doble Company.

5. The Great Depression finished them off, as it did most luxury car manufacturers.

With todays technology and refinement of the Doble design, a 2020 model Doble car could easily compete with IC and EV vehicles.

Spacey, the "hydraulic" part refers to the transfer of air power to the jaws, which enables gripping of the rivet pin, then the pulling of the pin until it breaks.

The term "hydraulic" normally refers to using a liquid, to greatly increase pressure within a tool or machine system - but the "hydraulic" term is also loosely used to describe using pressurised air, as well as pressurised liquid.

"PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION:

The rivet is pushed through the hole in the workpiece and the rivet pin inserted into the rivet gun nosepiece which will grip it tightly. When the rivet gun is activated the throttle valve allows compressed air through the tool. The pressure of the air forces the rivet pin into the jaws which pull the pin up into the rivet. As the pin is taken up, the base of the rivet expands and this joins the workpiece. The rivet gun pulls the pin until it breaks off, thereby securing the rivet. The used pins are ejected into the safety cap for disposal."

Spacey - "hydro pneumatic riveter" is pneumatic over hydraulic - not hydro, as in water driven by gravity, driving turbines.

.... said, "Well, that's aviation (avref) for you! Always looking for a way out of a tight spot!" Meantimes, talking of tight spots, it appeared that Cappy had brought back some souvenirs of his time in Kalgoorlie.

One of them was a pair of tight leotards with spots all over them - and Cappy got excited, just looking at the leotards - let alone sniffing them, and trying them on!

But he was rudely interrupted in his leotard dreams, by Turbo flinging the door open and bursting in - making Cappy hurriedly stuff the leotards under his pillow, for future enjoyment.

"Cappy! Get your flying (avref) gear on! We have to be in Canberra tonight! The PM has asked me to contribute my valuable advice with regard to this pandemic!"

"He knows I have the skills set, the contacts, and the transport knowledge to assist in getting the economy back on its feet! - plus there's money in it for us, too!"

Did you say MONEY!", squeaked Cappy. "Count me in, what are we taking? - a twin Comanche?" (avref) "Not a hope, replied Turbo. "We only have the turboencabulated Drifter, so we need to......

I wouldn't want to fly in any Jabiru that was bought with just a bucket of coins! - even if they were $2 coins!!

Considering that an average of 66% of Australia's population lives in 7 coastal cities, and 1 inland city - all with very high population densities, I'd have to say the comparison is quite valid.

https://blog.id.com.au/2014/population/demographic-trends/how-centralised-is-australias-population/

A simple way to measure the stats, would be tracking the number of sales of part-finished aircraft. I wouldn't be surprised to see a fair number for sale, due to the death of the kit owner.

I recently sighted an ad for a 20 year old RV-6 kit, that was for sale - as it came from the factory, untouched.

Sweden is going to be an interesting exercise, they have refused to introduce restrictions on movement, they just expect people to, "think about what they are doing, and do the right thing". I can't see that ending well.

Sweden currently has 400 deaths from COVID-19 (10 times Australias total virus deaths), for a population that is half of Australia.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-07/coronavirus-sweden-adopting-more-flexible-approach/12118422

I got some freight from a forum buddy in California, who grew garlic for a living. He chucked a heap of his finest garlic into my freight parcel.

Customs went ballistic, I thought I was going to be charged for attempting to import it - when I didn't even know he was throwing it in the box!

He had no idea garlic was a banned import into Australia ("vegetable matter"), and was apologetic.

Customs relented, repacked my goods into another box, and forwarded them to me, and burnt the original box and the garlic.

Turbo - The current info on Perth buses is a bit scarce, but we currently run Euro 4, Euro 5 and Euro 6 buses. The CNG % of the buses in the fleet has not changed in the last 10 years, and there's no sign it will change in the next 10 years.

There's a 2017 W.A. Parliamentary report berating the PTA for not reducing costs or doing better analysis of route needs - and in the report, it says CNG buses have a lower lifespan than diesel buses, at 16 years.

However, it seems the PTA get rid of all their buses, regardless of fuel type, at around 15-16 yrs, anyway.

The CNG buses are dearer to buy, have lower resale when sold, but have lower running costs, largely due to CNG being cheaper than diesel. I like their exhaust fumes, they are very clean.

It's not true that CNG is a failure in vehicles. Currently, nearly a third of the Perth bus fleet (515 buses) of approximately 1600 buses in total, is running on CNG - successfully - and has been, for around 16 years.

TransPerth had a few gas buses catch fire, largely due to faulty installation of CNG arrangements, but they've got a handle on it, and the CNG fires have ceased.

You cannot say CNG is a failure when use of CNG in ground transportation has doubled in the last 5 years, globally.

http://legacy.atcogas.com.au/Natural-Gas/Benefits-of-Gas-for-Vehicles

https://www.energynetworks.com.au/resources/fact-sheets/compressed-natural-gas-for-vehicles-clean-abundant-australian/

What is it about people not understanding the basic term, "essential movement only"? If you're going to have a flutter around the sky with no essential need to do so, that is against all current, virus-control directives.

Here on the Left Coast the State Govt has stopped "non-essential" movement between W.A. regions. You cannot go for a drive just to look at the scenery, you must have documentation outlining your NEED to carry out movement between W.A. regional boundaries, and you must be compliant with the 15 reasons that allow movement between regions. The Police have roadblocks in place and they take everyones number plate, and ask every driver the purpose of their trip.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-05/the-reasons-you-can-get-through-regional-checkpoints/12122862

....efforts not producing enough thrust to enable takeoff. Then it was found Cappy had jammed a large potato into the turboencabulator exhaust, thus stifling any serious amount of thrust, and ensuring Cappy stayed grounded.

There was method in his technique of course, it wasn't just a prank he was pulling on Turbo - it was a cunning plan to ensure he stayed grounded in Kalgoorlie, so he could sample more delights, such as those found in Questa Casa.

Then it turned out, that he was $195 short of getting real satisfaction behind the pink door - so he set about selling parts off the Drifter, to finance his personal enjoyment, and to ensure that he could stay in Kal, that much longer!

But alas - despite being fully funded with another $195 from the quick sale of a thyristor from the turboencabulator - it turned out that Cappy "couldn't get no satisfaction!"

This led to him being turfed unceremoniously out the pink door of Questa Casa, as the girls lost their patience in waiting for him to - ahem - "rise to their demands".

As he landed on the hard red soil outside the pink door in Hay St., it was fortuitous that Turbo just happened to be waiting there - as it appeared this exact type of scenario, had played out before!

Turbo dragged Cappy to his feet and said, "C'mon - Let's go and get......

Interesting article on the ABC News today regarding how they contained the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. I never realised how deadly Ebola was, until I read the article.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-06/how-the-west-africa-ebola-epidemic-was-contained/12094022

....hit the headlines, screaming - "Virtually Unknown Local Entrepeneur Produces Plans to Save World Aircraft Industry!"

As soon as Turbo sighted the news headlines, he grumbled, "Who reckons I'm an unknown? Everyone knows, I'm a legend in my own bathtime!"

Meantimes, Cappy was bringing up the cup of hot cocoa and soft slippers for Turbo, as he reminisced about the "Good Old Days" to anyone who would listen - which was only the care nurse.

"Do you think you should have let the journos know, you're actually in a retirement home?" said Cappy, with some concern. "This could affect your standing in the media somewhat, when it gets out!".

"No, I'd never let on, where I'm working from", said Turbo. "That would be a major embarrassment. It's all about keeping up the image, you know! I learnt this from politicians, long ago!"

"Ahh, yes, the image of prosperity and unlimited funding!", said Cappy. "That's a brilliant face and image to keep up, but sooner or later, you know, you'll be......

..... it struggled to gain traction, then it was found the virus-filled globes provided much home entertainment for unemployed commercial pilots, stewards and stewardesses, and any other unemployed from the tourism industries.

The entertainment is provided by the virus putting on an amazing show, as it tries to escape the snow globe, bouncing around the interior of the globe, like a caged monkey.

Meantimes, the wrecked aircraft industry, a mere shadow of its former self, presents to Turbine Industries as a distressed business case, ripe for renewal and rebound.

Turbo, sitting at his huge, gilded office desk, surrounded by gleaming, polished symbols of his former airline industry career, is poring over the figures and facts of the wrecked aircraft industry.

"I've got it!", he announced, to no-one in particular. "I can guarantee to restore the aircraft industry to its former substantial percentage of the global economy, and it will only take one thing! - and that is.....

Here's a good article about the old Outback pubs around Broken Hill, which are virtually all gone. Included is the full and interesting story of the Yanco Glen Hotel(s) - because there was more than one!

https://timegents.com/2020/01/30/outback-sands-reclaim-yanco-glen-hotel/

What is not told in the short news story of the drowning of Alex Robertson and his 13 yr old son, is that the drownings were witnessed by his 14 yr old and 12 yr old daughters, which is reported in the short inquest.

A truly distressing event for the girls, and no doubt they may have tried to help their father and brother, but were cautious enough not to enter the dam water too deeply.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14360117?searchTerm=Drowned%20Alex%20Robertson&searchLimits=l-state=New+South+Wales|||l-decade=190|||l-year=1901|||l-month=4

....I assume it is the original, the walls are less than 6ft so wonder how the pair drowned.

The true story appears to be that the proprietor of the Yanco Glen Hotel and his son were drowned in 1901 in the dam, when their horse and buggy slipped into the dam, when collecting water in casks that were in the buggy.

One can imagine that both would rush into the water to try and save the buggy and casks, and the very cold water rapidly gave them hypothermia. Most people were poor swimmers in those days, anyway.

http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/tragedy/display/20529-alexander-robertson-

Dam water is very cold, even in mid-summer - apart from a thin layer near the surface, and the shallow water near the waters edge.

Many a drowning victim has jumped into a dam for a swim, and the cold water just under the surface, causes hypothermia and muscle cramping - more so, if the person is hot when they jump in.

In addition, many people who are reasonable swimmers, overestimate their swimming abilities, and their ability to get out of difficulties when swimming.

Finally, fresh water doesn't support the human body as well as salt water, so swimming in fresh water means you have to exert more effort to stay afloat.

The "tank" description confusion has probably come about because "dams" are more often called "excavated earth tanks", or just "tanks" in NSW and QLD (OT is a former W.A. damsinker, or "tanksinker", by profession).

The steel tank is made from steel plates riveted to angle-iron frames, which are then galvanised - and the frames are then bolted together, with the angle-iron bolted on the inside of the tank.

The joints between the steel frames are either sealed with lead, or "pitch" (what we now know, as asphalt or bitumen).

Galvanising in the late 1800's and early 1900's was also a lot thicker and a lot more durable than galvanising done in later years, when they found methods to reduce the thickness of the zinc coating.

They are great photos of the Outback, thanks for posting.

..... saying that everything in the Bible was literal - and besides the dates had already been changed a dozen times - and Easter fell on different dates of April each year, as well.

With the Churches right behind the CMO in saying that Easter needed to be moved to Christmas 2020, and Christmas forwarded to Easter 2021, the true believers were fully satisfied.

The only problem that remained was getting rid of 62,000,000 chocolate Easter eggs, that were now surplus. Once again, Turbo had his thinking cap on. "I've got a brilliant idea!", he said, to no-one in particular.

"We'll take those 62,000,000 Easter eggs, and re-melt them into Corona-virus shapes, and sell them on every street corner!"

"This will have the effect of re-inforcing all the Virus rules, by constant Virus reminders on every intersection."

"Additionally, part of the Chocolate Virus sales proceeds will go to Turbine Enterprises Homes for Virus Victims - and the kids get to eat the Virus, thus making the Virus seem a whole lot less frightening to them!"

"That is a stunningly simple and brilliant solution, all in the one go!" cried Cappy. "Why didn't I think of that? This will go down in history as.......

As they say, you have to practice and study for your next job - "Would you like fries with that?"

They've been made redundant. That's dismissal by anyones measure. This is just the start of the "downsizing" of airlines.

The airline operators are shrinking their businesses to probably less than 20% of their "pre-virus" size.

A sizeable number of those pilots will never fly commercially again. Commercial Pilot training will effectively cease as an occupation for the next couple of years, at least.

Here are the U.S. unemployment figures from the Guardian, I don't think they are fudged in any way.

I have little doubt that a severely-damaged airline industry, from Boeing, right through to every American airline operator, is largely responsible for the unemployment levels rocketing.

Add in the COVID-19 business closures, and you can see where the economic damage is coming from.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/apr/02/markets-us-jobless-claims-covid-19-economy-recession-coronavirus-business-live?page=with%3Ablock-5e85dadf8f087564da1e4696

What I find strange is the unevenness of the COVID-19 infection areas and death tolls. It might as well be called "affluenza", because it's largely hitting the affluent, and regular traveller, nations.

What I would like to see, is the relationship between smoking levels and COVID-19 infections and deaths. Spain and France and Italy are all heavy-smoking nations, and the death toll amongst those three nations is exceptionally high.

https://google.com/covid19-map/?hl=en

I also saw figures today, that the U.S. unemployment rate, has rocketed from 3.5% to 17%! Could this be the death knell for Trump, who extolled his leadership skills, by a (formerly) booming U.S. economy?

And as it happened - OT, being an old W.A. Goldfields gold miner from way back, actually was on the Gold Course, looking for Gold, as he regularly does. But Turbo, being the office jockey that he is, thought he was on a Golf Course.

This is something that happens on a regular basis, when you're on a Gold Course, and looking for Gold - city slickers turn up, thinking the smooth areas where the Gold is largely found, are Golf Greens, and pull out Golf Clubs - instead of picks and shovels and dollypots and gold panning dishes.

But OT, being the easy-going type, lets these greenhorns fool around with their little white balls and Golf Clubs, while OT goes quietly about scooping up the gold-bearing material and sieving out the Gold, and getting rich enough to make a takeover offer for Boeing, in its distressed state.

It was during one of these quiet Gold-recovery operations, that OT found the historical remains of......