I see that our brilliant Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, , following on from the 'success' of his plan to ship 2000 Iraqi refugees to the US (oh, yes, it's all still going to happen...) has suggested to China that THEY should take the place of the USA in the planned Trans Pacific Partnership, a quasi American military solution in the guise of a trading agreement, the purpose of which was to nobble China's trade... I can imagine China's response: "So you want us to take over the lead role in destroying our own trade routes in Asia, is that right?" Malcolm: "Well, yes, but but but not on the surface, of course..." China: "Our under sea trade routes in Asia?" Malcolm: "Well, sure, we could start there..."

I recall that just a few years ago you could only rely on established newspapers and broadcasters to supply a diet of fake news, but now anyone can do it

EMERGENCY Cat Summit. I've lined up my Chinese Lucky Good Fortune Cats and given them Motivational Lecture and an ultimatum..."Now, look, I appreciate your work in the past but just lately there seems to be a significant slacking off in terms of bringing in Fortune to the household and this upsets me. I know you have had to make adjustments in this new climate, etc...but I expect more from you. I know you can do better. As an incentive, I can guarantee that should Fortune Input increase in the next 2 weeks, then those of you who need AA batteries to keep performing the waving-hand thing, well, you will get not only new batteries, but good batteries. Now, I'm not talking 'fancy alkaline' batteries, at this stage, but Good batteries none the less. Nothing from the Reject Shop. So, get to it. Let's have another meeting next week."

EMERGENCY Cat Summit. 
I've lined up my Chinese Lucky Good Fortune Cats and given them Motivational Lecture and an ultimatum..."Now, look, I appreciate your work in the past but just lately there seems to be a significant slacking off in terms of bringing in Fortune to the household and this upsets me. I know you have had to make adjustments in this new climate, etc...but I expect more from you. I know you can do better. As an incentive, I can guarantee that should Fortune Input increase in the next 2 weeks, then those of you who need AA batteries to keep performing the waving-hand thing, well, you will get not only new batteries, but good batteries. Now, I'm not talking 'fancy alkaline' batteries, at this stage, but Good batteries none the less. Nothing from the Reject Shop. So, get to it. Let's have another meeting next week."

Buying a TV:Yes, a Sony Smart TV, not too big. Reviews note the picture is good and the sound is okay. Sony itself, as a company, is pretty well cactus now, as are quite a few famous Japanese companies. The good thing about Sony is that the quality is still there. It has to be. Sony is about to be bought out lock stock and barrel by the Chinese company that makes iPhones for Apple in China...and if Sony didn't keep making basically good stuff, then it would just sink without any buyers at all.

I mean, black outs don't happen much anymore, unless you have a cyclone or a big storm, and that doesn't happen often. What a bunch of babies. The best thing to do in a black-out is to do nothing. Maybe light a candle. No point running around like a complaining chook with its head cut off because you'll only most likely trip over on the furniture and graze your chicken feet. Just do nothing for awhile. It is well within our genetic structure to do nothing. Look at Canberra.

step daughter jokingly complained that I couldn't speak Chinese. I said "yes I can! Ni hao, tamada, jaiyo, zaijen, shar bi!" She replied " 'Saying Hello, motherfxxker, good luck, goodbye stupid cxxt'. Doesn't really count." Still, it has helped me through a lot of difficult social situations. I believe I was very clearly understood. Still, it is not a 'one size fits all' statement, to be sure. The only time it ever let me down was going through Customs at Beijing Airport. There was a bit of a delay.I did have to go through a full cavity search but at the time I just put that down to the oriental generosity of strangers.

I don't know why folk get so upset regarding Mr Trump. Well, yes I do, actually, but it is the stated plan as he stated it, and why folk voted for him. His actions have been in accord with his thinking and planning and statements. Yes, there will be some kind of trade war with China, yes, (bad idea) overall he will reduce the number of American military bases in Asia, (good idea)and yes Australia will face some serious consequences regarding allegiances, alliances, and future economics. It is obvious. The Au$ will go up, jobs here will be lost, there will be less money for hospitals, pensions schools etc and there will be some lasting economic distress, and all this is understandable. The global financial crisis of 2008 continues unabated for the next 10 years at least. It has to. These corrections always take that long. It was a BIG correction. The fact that the Australian Govt hasn't any plan or contingency at all just shows how much we have payed these clowns for doing nothing, in fact for not thinking, not planning... for so very long.