Comments on: Terry Barnes has a must-read piece …

By: rebel with cause

rebel with cause — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:07:41 +0000

I wonder how the market for ac units is doing anyway? In the past Tubby Taylor was on every second ad break flogging off ac units but I haven’t seen many ads on TV for access yet despite this being a hot summer. Be interesting to hear from someone in the industry about the effect increased power costs are having. Pity too as ac has been a great thing to improve our quality of life. Yes, you can suffer through the heat OK but modern living shouldn’t be about suffering should it?

By: Terry Barnes

Terry Barnes — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:21:41 +0000

James in Footscray: Re the Spectator article, in hindsight I think my wife and others including you are right and perhaps I shouldn’t have used the “b” word and CUB tag as descriptive shorthand for the local demographic type.

But I did emphasise in the article that Patto locals are hardworking, successful, aspirational and don’t care what people say or think. They earn the right to enjoy what they have by their efforts, and in that sense shouldn’t everyone aspire to be a bogan?

By: brc

brc — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:47:22 +0000

@james in footscray – yes, my first draft of the comment was somewhat dismissive. In fact I know someone who lives in Patterson lakes and is a very cultured gentleman with a very impressive collection of Australian art coupled with perfect manners. The other point I was going to make is that many of the ‘CUB’ as he calls them are immigrants or children of immigrants, and thus are very much in touch with the wider world.

@grey : it’s my choice what I spend my money on.

FYI I do have a V8 powered vehicle in the garage. But I don’t drive to work. Not that it matters either way. It’s my choice and I am harming no-one with my choice of AC or Vehicle. In fact I make others lives better when they come to visit or I give them a lift.

Oh, and you think it’s funny to criticise my back-of-the-envelope maths (yes, one zero too many) when you’re the one who suggested a computer and an AC drew about the same power in the first place?

FME those witches brews must have some special gear in them.

By: James In Footscray

James In Footscray — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:21:22 +0000

Nah, sorry brc, Terry Barnes might live in Patterson Lakes but it’s still a snobbish article. I’m sure he isn’t a ‘CUB’.

It’s a lib version of Margaret Simons’ visit to Fountain Gate (see book reviews: http://podcast.thesydneyinstitute.com.au/podcasts/SIQ%20archive%20PDFs/Issue%2037,%20July%202010.pdf)

By: Entropy

Entropy — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:56:56 +0000

Pretty useless on a humid coast though

By: Eyrie

Eyrie — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:20:26 +0000

He’s wrong about the evaporative air conditioners. It is the refrigerative ones that draw lots of power. Evap units just have a small water pump (unless mains pressure will do) and a small fan/blower.Usually less than 100 watts. Absolutely the way to go in dry places like Perth, Adelaide, Toowoomba etc.

By: Rousie

Rousie — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:06:51 +0000

LL -
So true. Over Christmas/New Years I witnessed a grassroots campaign against this Govt the likes of which I haven’t seen in 20 years.

Be it a table of long unseen relatives, local retailers, business colleagues or strangers at the fireworks the over riding feeling was utter contempt.

By: nilk

nilk — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:46:52 +0000

Manalive @7.52 it’s all good. I don’t go out partying, and other than buying books occasionally, my internet is my vice. They can have my keyboard when they tear it from my cold dead hands lol.

By: Leigh Lowe

Leigh Lowe — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:25:21 +0000

Howard used to talk about BBQ stoppers, and this is one of them.
We had a stream of people through our place over Christmas from all walks of life (except unionists, thank The Lord Baby Jesus).
People with young families, B&B operators, farmers, mine workers, a gallery owner, a gym operator, machinery contractors, the lot.
There were two themes.
Firstly, power prices are killing them and it is Gillard’s doing.
Secondly, they were somewhat relaxed because they saw the fix as imminent (Gillard going).
And before he usual types spout off, most if these people were previously apolitical, or at least I had no idea what their leanings were, if any.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:20:25 +0000

Well I’ve discovered that Red Ted’s gift–to ostensibly lower my power costs– means that I can watch the bleeding TV for one hour at a time.

It was actually the Brumby government that did this. Ted stuck with it because it was going to cost far too much to dismantle.