Vance has been digging holes for himself (eg his excursion to Hungary) and it is possible he will fall in

You are not wrong. Trump of course is the main hurdle at the moment, but then there's Vance to deal with, and there is very little commentary about how to deal with him when he becomes POTUS (as seems likely)

Slow/steady wins the race. Outcomes sensitive to tiny discrete fluctuations. Bandt only just lost and was cutting through (eg famous "Google it mate"). If he'd received handful more preferences and won Greens would be progressing faster now. Presently they are the only articulate opposition to war

Tawny frogmouth at Bennelong Park very late evening

Tawny frogmouth near Parramatta River, Rhodes in the distance

Sentinel

Well said, you nailed it exactly

Zero self-awareness. How can anyone representing Australia be proud of being in a photo with this person?

Why only 25 percent?

Yes it’s a terrifying possibility. It may embolden Putin to do the same thing with Ukraine, as he has threatened many times, if he perceives a weakness or vulnerability caused by the mayhem and confusion unleashed in the Middle East, especially at any point where he can no longer rely on Trump

Thanks for this, seems to be little commentary about Vance. Seems inevitable that Trump is going down, causing widespread trauma/destruction, taking generations to recover. Should then be clear pathway for Vance to become POTUS, regardless of midterms and positioning of others, such as Rubio

Yes but why can't they just buy a nice island somewhere and build sandcastles or something (or try reading a book or two), instead of trying to recreate the world in their repulsive image

We owe so much to ancient Persian mathematics, including the origins of current algebraic terminology and notation, and it is heart-breaking and soul-destroying that the entire region is engulfed in war and human tragedies that will endure for generations, based on whims of criminals and grifters

View of heliostat in Rhodes, in the background. In the foreground, plaque “Take a moment to pause, breath and be present”.

View of fish sculpture at Bennelong Park, taken from sailing club balcony on banks of Parramatta River.

View of fish sculpture at Bennelong Park, in the background. In the foreground, plaque “Take a moment to pause, breath and be present”.

“Take a moment to pause, breath and be present”

Connections
Puzzle #1009
🟩🟦🟨🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Always nice to get one of each!

Your last line says it all, about the paradox of weakness being the strongest force at the moment, and it applies far beyond the topic of your essay

Tawny frogmouth on Give Way sign near Kissing Point, Putney, Sydney

Thanks Sandy for your amazing photos and attention to details. This tawny frogmouth follows me around in the late evenings, usually unseen, though I hear the wings, and occasionally poses on a sign!

Rabbit at Bennelong Park, Putney, Sydney, creating a shadow in the shape of a rabbit using her ears. This rabbit is very old and survived various purges and foxes, hope it survives a bit longer yet!

Rabbit showing off her expertise in creating a shadow in the shape of a rabbit

Connections
Puzzle #1006
🟩🟦🟪🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Always nice to get one of each!

Thank you Australia Institute for continue to articulate the absurdity of our Government’s dogged and stubborn position on AUKUS and the shocking implications of sleepwalking into shameful complicity

Albanese should read this well-written piece and consider resigning. He could of course consider a full apology, not to save his skin but to save his soul

It is disgusting beyond words, and the Australian Government should have condemned it immediately! If they say that they didn't know at the time Albanese/Wong endorsed US strikes, then they should apologise and retract any possibility of endorsing such reprehensible crimes

It’s now known as variable geometry

This is a very fine webinar, wide ranging discussion, including remarks about the transcendental nature of art (including mathematics!) and the value of reflection, thanks very much!

With respect, Carney’s speech was mostly platitude and empty rhetoric and Iran not mentioned. Natural dislike of term "variable geometry", suggesting the ability to fine-tune and adapt to circumstances, but more likely to mean grovelling sycophancy and self indulgent self promotion/congratulation

Paper model of surface continuous everywhere except at the origin, where the discontinuity is not removable

Model from another angle. Blu tack visible at the origin

Model from another angle. The ridge and trough are both evident

Paper template for creating the model

Surface continuous everywhere, except at the origin, where the discontinuity is not removable

With respect, this speech was mostly platitude and empty rhetoric and Iran not mentioned. Natural dislike of term "variable geometry", suggesting the ability to fine-tune and adapt to circumstances, but more likely to mean grovelling sycophancy (eg egregious endorsement of strikes in Iran)

Not that hard, is it

Wong/Albanese (Carney also apparently, so disappointing) playing word games, pretending to endorse, and pretending to refrain from endorsing, Trump's actions at the same time. Difficult to maintain respect for any of them or confidence in their leadership. Strikes are outrageous and clearly illegal

Nothing Trump says or does has any intrinsic value or meaning beyond serving as a distraction from his egregious behaviour and to further his grifting and self-interest. Australia should not hesitate to condemn the strikes on Iran and dissociate itself from Trump ASAP

Tawny frogmouth perched in tree near Kissing Point Jetty, Putney, Sydney

Same tawny frogmouth perched near Kissing Point jetty

Night watch near Kissing Point jetty, Putney, Sydney

Well one way or the other, his meeting with Trump seemed to be a turning point for him (downwards). I suppose I lament the lost opportunities and I agree that subsequent behaviour has been appalling and don't see how he can recover