Recidivist

Thanks for the insight. But I'm sure frontier self reliance would have been a necessity in the early days of European settlement in Australia also, and our society has developed differently ... (and Ish points out that Canada is much more like Australia). I sure hope this (in bold) was a throwaway word and you're not saying the system was intentionally designed to achieve those ends - rather that the design of the scheme has allowed those outcomes to develop? My post wasn't intended to discuss safety nets per se, but more the attitude - in Australia the concept is that "everyone is entitled to a fair go" - in USA it's much more “Why should I work my ass off so somebody else gets benefits ...?” (I dropped off the last words because that relates to your comment about the design of the scheme rather than the need for the scheme).

I don't know that "cruelty" is the best word, nor "punching down", but the article does raise something that often puzzles Australians (in particular?) about American society. That is the concept that you do NOT "carry someone else's bags" for them. Americans seem trenchantly opposed to things like societal safety nets because it means that American 1 is paying the bills of American 2 - and that simply is not the American way. I think it's fair to say that in Australia even someone right of centre (like LB) accepts that our Medicare system and pharmaceutical benefits scheme are warranted and improve our society. I often wonder what happens to an indigent American who becomes sick ? Years ago now, before modern antiviral drugs , I contracted shingles. The infection was quite close to the optic nerve and blindness in that eye was a distinct possibility. My GP had to phone Canberra to get authorisation to prescribe a particular drug to treat the infection. The drug was $10,000 per tablet - I had to take 2 per day for 14 days. The drug wasn't on our PBS (subsidised medicines) but it didn't cost ME a cent. I have the impression that in the US it would simply be my bad luck if I lost the sight of an eye - probably the attitude would be that had I worked harder I might have had the money to pay for my own treatment. Perhaps this sort of thing can be categorised as "cruelty", but I'm sure there's a better word - maybe just "indifference" to another's plight? It does IMHO seem to be a point of difference between the cultures of the 2 countries. In Australian idiom it's known as "bugger you Jack, I'm OK" - and it's not considered a desirable character trait.

Thanks Mike - good point that I had completely overlooked! Cheers

Hi Lark No, the metal fragment was probably 15 - 20 mm thick - definitely bomb, not bullet. The bombing of Darwin is still not well known - so perhaps you and many of your countrymen also don't know about the heroism of the crew of the USS Peary in the battle. After taking repeated bomb hits, she was sinking fast, but her anti-aircraft guns continued firing until the last. There is a memorial to her and her crew (of whom I think only one survived) about a kilometre from the Cenotaph where the commemoration ceremony takes place each year. Lest we forget.

"If you want to call yourself a shipwright, you have to be able to shave with a 4" angle grinder"

Jared I doubt she would have had masthead running backstays - they weren't a thing in those days. More likely the runners would have come off the hounds, pulling directly against the forestay.

Of course they did. And the significance is? You were the one who tied Morrison and coal exports together apparently as a comment on Australia's current leadership in response to the issue of other countries commenting about Trump - I don't understand what your point is now. Perhaps you could clarify?

Nah, we've moved past that minor inconvenience - it's called a "Captain's pick". See for example Morrison's pronouncement that the Australian Embassy would be moved to Jerusalem ... Cabinet knew nothing about that.

You do realise that Morrison emulates Trump, don't you? Right down to the baseball cap. So, the fact that he is a hypocritical liar comes as little surprise, nor the fact that he thinks the voters are idiots. That people from other countries are able to point out his shortcomings is a good thing in the eyes of many Australians. Just as we are able to comment on Trump's abject failings as a human being, let alone POTUS.

Interesting! A mate has an Irwin 52 - has had it for probably 10 years now. I sailed on it a few times (drank on it more often) and was impressed with the build quality. The only thing I found fault with was the fridge, which I think was a custom unit produced for the boat. It was built in with some very nice timberwork, which was all going to have to be sacrificed if/when the fridge died. That's a very serious shortcoming, I know you will agree.

I think this says more about the arrogance (and ignorance) of Trump supporters. It's a shame they don't pay a bit more attention to the world-wide embarrassment your country has become under Trump. I know you don't give a shit about Australians' views either - no need to say it.

I had a new mast compression post for my boat galvanised a couple of years back. I was astonished to see NO protective barriers around the tank! And the heavy metal and acid fumes had destroyed most of the brain cells of the workers at the plant - they were like automatons. Fucking scary! Bloke in Queensland last year "fell" into a woodchipper. Police later charged his two "workmates". The only way that could have come about is that one of them boasted about it. THAT would have been a fun night at the pub! "Haha - you should have seen it ...." I think it's been discussed here before, but there's a particularly nasty plant in tropical Aus that has a leaf you don't want to brush against. It's been described as like being electrocuted while in a tub of boiling acid! Documented cases include a horse leaping over a cliff to escape the agony, and an army officer shooting himself with his service revolver after using the leaf for "toilet purposes". Maybe this should be in the WTF Australia thread ...

Please! "...bated breath ..." (Of course, you may be saying that you have halitosis and your breath smells like rotten fish ... - in which case I apologise for correcting you)

Haha, great LB bait Jack!

Sad news. Thanks for letting us know pulpit. The RL24 was indeed well ahead of it's time. Quite a few of my friends have owned RL24s and 28s over the years. I've never owned one, but there's still time ... Fair winds Rob Legg, and thanks for your contribution to Australian yachting.