Earl Hood

OD surely you meant that he says it before he thinks! Positively scary to think he could be in charge if something happened to No 1.

Wrecker This is the same TPP agreement that the World Bank analysis showed would lift out GDP by 0.7% by 2030! The TPP agreement that the DFAT National Interest Statement released this week, apart from pages of glowing motherhood statements on the benefits of these types of agreements, could only point to a red tape saving of $147,000 per year, refer to Attachment 11 of the Impact Analysis. Any agreement completed in such secrecy (from voters that is, not from multinational bosses) is suspicious. Why wouldn't Andrew Rodd let the Productivity Commission do an analysis of its costs and benefits? Basically for next to zero gain we have handed over yet more power to foreign multinationals to hold our policy makers to ransom through the Investor Dispute mechanism. Dumb politics of the worst kind. Robb just wanted another trophy to his name before he retires. And what is your definition of capitalism? You're not thinking the TPP has anything to do with free trade or free markets or something?

I agree deep forward he will struggle. I think his best option is wing, forward but does he have the defensive aptitude for that role, not sure. But he can run forward into space, and mark the ball inside 50 and kick a few. But that may not Fit Buck's game plan. Who knows but a very good team will make him look good.

I think the journo should have talked about density, oh that has weight, mass connotations, how about thickness? Yes the beard was thick!

This episode reminded me of a story told by Tommy Hafey not long before his passing. He was talking to us about resilience and of players who had been dumped by their clubs but resurrected their careers elsewhere. He spoke glowingly of Kevin Sheedy who came the Tigers after being told by the MFC that he wasn't up to it, this was when Norm was in charge by the way, too small and slow apparently. Anyway Sheedy showed up at Punt Road just as Tommy was trying to instill his high standards of fitness and toughness into his players. Sheedy was his best trainer and toughest man and he said he often turned the other way when Sheedy would get stuck into any player, physically who may have squibbed a tackle at training or in a match the previous week. Sounded very much like workplace bullying to me and Tommy would always claim to have not seen Sheedy roughing a team mate up, if they complained. The new toughness worked for the Tiges back then, let's hope Viney and others can make it work for us. Personally I like to see this physicality at training, we have been soft for too long. My worry is Gen Z are different beasts to the players of the 60's and 70's. The bullying may have to be done with a touch of empathy and with ample constructive feedback.

Is it time to talk guava paste instead?

Maybe because we had 10 or so top 25 players injured by about round 4 and they didn't come back till round 20. That will always stuff up your depth. My hope this year is that we have zero injuries to our top 20 players. Big ask you say except the top sides seem to do it every year, that is one reason why they get there. if we go through the season with minimal injuries I think we can make a play for the finals but a lot of luck is needed.

Great memories Maca. I had the single or EP and Green River was the B side but that was my favourite song.

Is that really you BBO? So positive!

Yes I am sure the TTP will boost economic activity, well at least in the courts of law. The Investor Dispute mechanism is a classic. This will provide a lucrative avenue for our fossil fuel multinationals to recoup billions in compensation from governments and tax payers as they legislate to reduce their carbon footprints. Brilliant timing by the U.S. oil magnates who will employ more lawyers than engineers in the future to examine every piece of legislation lest it in some way disadvantage a fossil fuel conglomerate.

Gee thanks for the education Pro. Given the recent study that reported that 62 wealthy individuals own more wealth than half the planet, I.e. 3 plus billion people, gee why would we want any wealth distribution? Imagine the consequences! Who in their right mind would want to attack the fossil fuel wealthy to transfer money to those solar, wind, renewable energy bastards? It is just a matter of time before renewables are cheaper than coal. Solar has no limits on efficiency whereas all the others are limited as they are about making steam to drive a turbine. And by the way the UN is just a forum for the world's nations to meet, discuss and occasionally resolve issues! They might have an agenda but they have little power. You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

Sunrise on Channel 7 had something about O'Meara thinking about coming to a Melbourne based team this morning. I was in the gym so couldn't hear the words but read it on the captions. I couldn't work out just why he would be signaling that at the start of the season but maybe it is because his manager in in talks and let something slip to the media to help on the negotiations.

You mean a blitzkrieg?

Good heavens a socialist conspiracy by the UN bent on world domination! Who would have thought it possible. I am confused We know western economies have been laid low before 1929, 1987, 2008 and it is nearly always due to excessive exuberance by the capitalist elite as Alan Greenspan termed it in 2008. 1973 and 1978 were caused by the oil shocks and a number of regidities in economies at the time. Each Time profits were capitalised on the way up and the loses were socialised on the way down. Governments stuffing up economies? Well yes they aren't perfect but maybe it is only when they lose contol of the private sector and its legion of parasites in the financial sectors who add near zero value to society

Dads Army eh Aircon! But I remember Captain Manwairing, Walker and Jones all stood firm against the dreaded Hun. So you never know, even kids and pensioners can prevail if they realise the opposition, no matter how talented can be beaten because they have worked out their weakness - that is "they don't like it up em"!

I think you missed my point, O Learned One, scientists believe these forests have never burnt before and they are thousands of years old. These fires are not the result of a few hot days in January but long term drying out of the alpine environment.

I read today there are still some 70 fires raging in Tasmania, trees that were 1500 years old have been burnt, large parts of the World Heritage Area have been destroyed. High altitude forests that have never experienced fire are now dead. People fought to keep the loggers and dam builders out but now climate change is doing its nasty work. Apparently, according to some, it hasn't warmed at all since 1998 but gee it is a lot flicking drier and we are losing our forests at a massive rate. But let's not do anything rash lest we upset the economy.

Hmmm men's final could be over very quickly at this rate. Murray doesn't look right.

If it was Watts as a tall forward, with 25 plus goals for the year, plus third man up in the ball ups I would be wrapped and I suspect we as a team might be cruising given all the other talent that is around.

Well that was some match, as good as I have seen in women's tennis. Great win by a girl who was not overwhelmed by the Williams circus and power game. Great effort

Kerber wins the first set! Finally a girl with a decent serve and ground strokes that can keep Serena in rallies and not get totally overwhelmed. Get Serena into rallies often enough and you will win. Now what is likely to happen now is Serena will try to get more intimidating and hope the newby cracks. Because Serena, great as she is, seems to be always playing someone who has never been to a Slam final, it is a huge advantage to have.

Et tu Bitter! That is all I can say. I haver never sought recognition as you know but yes if it was earned then so be it, thus the odd gong over the years. I would have thought my tireless work with the Hood Foundation, dedicated as it is for the rehabilitation of fallen equestrian polo players might have been recognised this year but it was not to be. But my efforts to help the poor Cubans of late are not recognised, especially here. As the first person to break the U.S. embargo I am their sole export market it seems, not for bananas as I thought but for tonnes of guava paste. My Fitzroy estate (now minus one maid) is full of shipping containers of guava! Perhaps Romsey Manner has some space? Can we do a deal? You provide storage space and I can provide pro bono consulting services for investments, SMSF, small business help etc. We are noted for turning around small enterprises such as yours, not unlike Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchens!

Really enjoying the Jokovic vs Federer battle tonight, especially when Channel 7 zooms in on Boom Boom Becker's reactions in the coaches box, as they do after every rally. Meant to add that nothing changes.

Good observation WJ I still remember arriving by air at Nairobi Airport in some years ago from Cairo on Sudan Airways (a story in its own rights) and being detained at Customs and told I would have to wait 3 days for a flight out because my yellow fever inoculation was incorrect. I had been inoculated 3 days before in Cairo and told it was valid for 10 years but I wasn't told the vaccine didn't take effect for 10 days. So I was caught on a technicality that the official would need some money to persuade his manager to ignore. Anyway $US200 later got us out to a taxi and on our way. That's Africa.

The Age is reporting the The Prince was detained for 4 days in the Congo but has now arrived safe back in OZ due to some mix up with his visa. He was there for a wedding. I assumed he was training at the camp, seems not. Apparently all is well.