Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Stand by on battery recycling in Victoria. I happen to know the young bloke who has spent the past three years getting it through State govt and then the councils. Its German tech, but will all be done in Victoria. It's on the radar to see how invest-able it will be, but a few handfuls of Series A funding to make sure dibs are there.
If you are on twitter, try having a look at a UK operation called Electric Classic Cars (@elecclassiccars). They convert sports and classic cars using Tesla drive trains. I could see an operation here which rips out the petrol engines and loads up with a fully electric system, or a petrol generator engine with electric drive train as a more suitable option for distances. Mazda is bringing out a new rotary engine, but it will mostly be used as a compact generator engine for electric power trains, a la Akio Toyota's well announced viewpoint of ICE not being phased out entirely until 2050-2060. All very well having all electric but if you have to join the line for a recharge and a half charge is 2 hours, those long journeys might be in days every 180-200km.
Somehow, I just can't see electric cars working here in Oz due to our distances.
No way would I be able to drive the Nullabor in an all-electric vehicle!
Can you imagine having to stop anywhere on the Nullabor in summer to charge your car? Last time I went over (Jan/Feb this year) it was 52.9 degrees on the day I drove the full distance.
Ain't NO WAY IN HELL I would have survived had I needed to stop and recharge my car for 6 hours!!!
Electric in suburbia is great - drive 12km to do your groceries and come home and charge.
Rural Australia is a no go. Our distances are simply too great.


)Morning all,
Rainy day in Melbourne town even though no rain forecast. Hot week coming up so my beer run I did on Friday was good timing.
Was surprised that Boxing Day sales are already happening. Must be a reaction to the poor sales figures thus far in the FY. Purchased a new stereo and a sound bar. The sales dude was rather clueless but I did my own research so not really a problem. Overall I saved over $300 so that was good. Haven't used a sound bar before so that will be something new. I mentioned the multi-CD turntable to the sales dude and he said he's never seen one. Shows the vast gap between the generations in regard to knowledge. If it's not on the smartphone it never existed.
One good thing about the Christmas period is that I won't get woken up by tradies in the early hours of the morning. The build next door has mainly gone to inside trades. Can't wait till the build is finalised as it should be the last of them in the street and the quiet of the day will return. Lots more people in the street now though so the battle for car parks spots in the street will only get worse.
The light rail is up and running in Sydney, so not long now that people will start complaining about it. Since I live in Melbourne, riding on light rail is not something I'll be seeking out the next time I'm in Sydney which will be next year.
Hope the coming week is good for you. No doubt lots of Christmas work parties will be happening this week as people go on leave.
Interested to know which sound bar you got, been thinking about it.
Worked in consumer electronics (sales) for years and I hear ya on the multi cd. I went to two stores with my Son as he has just built a house, the first guy was brilliant and the next guy was useless. First had plenty of product knowledge and was extremely helpful, the second didn't listen to a word we said and kept trying to sell us stuff we didnt want.
As for the rail, they are already saying it's faster to drive lol.
My parents in law are visiting from overseas and staying with us for 6 weeks. Still have 4 more weeks to go. I'm trying to be as good host as I can but somehow it's still not enough for Mrs.
Its been more stress than fun for me but I guess Mrs is happy.
On the homeward leg. I declared this year I wasn't doing any entertaining. Hasn't stopped the kids from declaring the place the party venue most days, but the whole Christmas/Boxing Day events thing has been successfully hand balled to those that needed to take a turn. The freezer out back is full of fish and crayfish that have been caught over the last month or two, so if people do pop over I can always put a snapper or something into the pizza oven. Or take some dough out of the freezer and whip up some pizzas.
36 on Christmas Day, otherwise a week of 30, so nice and cool to just hang out. Beach mornings, pool afternoons and if the washing basket only shows bikinis and boardies for the week I will call it a success.

Evacuated on Friday ( I live at Cudlee Creek ) and finally got back Monday.
Thxs to all the volunteers that worked their collective butts off protecting properties, and yes mine is fine.
Went for a drive to Lobethal yesterday as I decided I should spend my money with local business rather than on the way back up. The devestation is shocking, I really have no words for it. So many properties destroyed, vineyards, stock just terrible.
Now we have Smoko (Scomo's new nick name) here. He now states there will be no change to the climate change policies, hello what planet do you live on? I really do wish that during the last summit they removed the loophole that allows you to use past credits (nice accounting trick) to affect your climate target. Without them we would fail miserably.
I wish all a Merry Xmas, will be off to my Sons brand new house and share with the inlaws. Daughter in law is due Jan. 7th when I become a Grandpa for the first time. So still a lot to look forward to. Today on Xmas Eve, doing my normal and putting platters on the bar for all the locals, smoked salmon, smallgoods, cheese and pate with olives etc. Will be an interesting day with people sharing their stories and tears
Enjoy all.