The horror, the horror.
I recall, decades ago, laying on my bed, studying pictures of Snapper Rocks in the latest Surfing Magazine and being absolutely confounded. The crystalline waters, beautifully tapered rights, wild crowds were all exotic though understandable. What got me was the futuristic skyscraper city filling the horizon on certain shots. This was the time before internet and, first, I didn’t understand how a wave like that could break in what I imagined to be the innards of a bay. Second, I wondered how this Manhattan on the sand was not world famous. Third, I thought, “Some day, I will visit this magical Shangri-La and likely never leave.”
Well, years later I visited Australia’s Gold Coast for the very first time on assignment for the aforementioned Surfing. It was 2010 and the Association of Surfing Professionals Gold Coast Pro was set to kick off the season. The air was warm, the water was warm too, and I sat on my Coolangatta balcony gazing at the glory up the coast.
Eventually I hitched a ride and realized it was not very cool. Zero culture, bad restaurants, an odd scene, poorly behaved children on “schoolies” and promptly forgot all about it until this morning.
For this morning, I learned from the British Broadcasting Corp. that tropical cyclone turned very scary storm Alfred had eaten all the sand. All those tasty waves being stepped off into by local legends Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson causing massive erosion.
Surfers Purgatory.
When I was there, in 2010, I tried to go to the ASP banquet at the Gold Coast Convention Center but was not allowed inside. Mick Fanning was being awarded his 2009 trophy, if I recall. Neither of us aware of the storm just over the horizon.
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Hey chas what’s going on with your mate from surfival, has he done a runner with our $$$
what’s up?
Halls Creek reigning heavyweight champion!
swimming aus beaches seems as confortable as navigate ad infested bg pages…
If you’re heavily tattooed does it reduce your chances of Melanoma?
Asking for almost every shirtless cunt on the Goldie
Don’t you live in Japan?
Cunt of a place.
Lest we not forget….the Gold Coast beaches are man made……what could go wrong????
GC needs burritos. I know a guy….
PT has a show on a conservative YouTube channel. Here he is interviewing Joey Buran. Hopefully Chas can write up a short article so we can get some stories about PT and Pastor JB from the crowd.
Brazilian storm? If it was in 0’10…
Any truth to the stories of metal detectorists having turf wars over the newly uncovered gold mine of cheap tat exposed by alfred along the coast?
It’s not gold, just congealed bronzer.
found myself on the Gold coast for a few solid years early in my career, would walk out of the “office” to a 30 person brawl, over what band was better. to this day, and ive been around, never seen anything like it
Nothing like a bit of musical culture. They say it’s all the money that they put into musical education in primary schools.
Nah, nothing to see here. Kobe had an insta story saying that this is normal, professor Kobe can’t be wrong can he?
There was a spot in Surfers that did $1 or $2 corona’s back in 2012ish that we would reek havoc on. Also got arrested for chatting up fat chicks so I could skip the line into the club. Wild times in Surfers.
The Gold Coast: Talk To Fat Chicks, Go To Jail.
As it should be!
Hurricane Trump did the same thing to my 401k
Maybe Elon can fire him.
It could be worse hahahahha https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Do you really think they give a flying fuck if their net worth goes from $400 billion to $200 billion? Me thinks not.
Yes
You might want to listen to Musk in interviews. He surely doesn’t sound like he cares. And if you don’t think he is well aware of what he is doing to the economy and his own worth I have some swamp land in Florida that I can sell you for a good price.
I feel that the economy will improve big time within a year.
The previous administration , and their snakes in the media, lied to the people of this country so much it’s sick. If you deny that or claim not to know about it you are either dumb or dishonest.
Trump is a blowhard for sure. And Elon creeps me the fuck out. But the Ukraine war will be over by summer and the United States will be on the way to trimming the fat and hopefully lowering out debt-deficit. And building more of what we use right here in the States.
At least I hope so.
I am not going to claim or deny anything as I am a believer that ALL politicians are fucking liars with Trump leading the charge. Things might get better, but they might not. If I knew the answer to that I’d be wealthier than Elon. Sure the gov’t is bloated and needs some trimming but there are certainly better ways to go about it than slash and burn now fix it later. This isn’t a tech company, it’s a cuntry.
you can’t argue with the facts….Biden delivered a strong robust economy to trumpy, contrary to what was said and MAGA…it was so great ,but now in a couple of mths the data shows serious deterioration….cost of living skyrocketing …inflation increasing…..goverment services being crippled….Tesla in freefall….it’s great to have hope, but based on what?
It seems clear that Trump is playing the long game. Make the tariffs less one sided and maybe bring manufacturing back here. Do you feel comfortable having most of our medication made in China?
Ukraine war most likely over by summer.
Maybe a tough patch for awhile here economically but hopefully we can root out some corruption and get the debt/deficit down some.
he promised a short game of lowering cost of living and America first…..so now a long game ????
China provides $10 B in medicine to the USA which is 6% of total medicine imports……
Tariffs , increase costs…..trade war benefits no-one …USA is on the edge now of going into a recession……so maybe/hopefully is the future of the USA……???
The world stage is moving at lightning speed. Thank Laird we have a
Coherent President who’s not afraid to stand up and take 100’s of questions without sweating a bit. Unlike Joe lol Brutus.
Have faith old warrior. Maybe we can avoid the censorship, government heavy apocalypse that was a certainty if Kamala and Tim made it
If you think manufacturing is gonna make a comeback in the US I have some stock in Purps to sell you. Trumps tarrifs during his first term just caused US businesses to raise prices and many eventually folded. There’s more developing nations that would love to manufacture the cheap shit Americans want than Trump can hit with tarrifs. Maybe, just maybe Trump can bring back all the coal mining jobs and make America great again. Oh wait, he also promised that his first term. Didn’t happen.
Yes I believe that
He can’t even get his MAGA merch manufactured in the USA. And you think he’s gonna revitalize American manufacturing???
Please tell me that you don’t believe that public servants, scientists, historians, journalists etc have dedicated their lives to deceiving you and a reality TV star with a history of fraud, a well documents history of lying and bankruptcies is a source of truth ???
I believe we have been deceived by our government and their lying allies in the media for years but especially since Covid.
Did you vote for Harris/Walz? Or if you don’t live here.. would you have voted for them? If so you have no credibility.
I don’t live there but I’m still informed about your politics and I have spent enough time there to have empathy for the struggles of regular people. I wouldn’t vote for Trump and he continues to prove why everyday.
Elon nearly crying during his Fox Business interview tells me they do care. I however do not give a single fuck about billionaires losing money.
They’re going for the high score
yeah they do…ego/money and power…….watch as they start blaming each other…….or Biden’Obama….
Carter’s toxic legacy started all this. Should never got rid of Millhouse
not at all…..it’s a trait of man…..the more money and power you have the more you want…..it’s just man’s greed!
Since 1950, the market has had 38 correction moves of 10%. Basically, once every couple years. It’s healthy for the market. Valuation is where it was in Sept. 2024. You’ll survive. So will your 401K.
Is that what you would have said if the economy tanked during the tenure of Biden or Obama?
A few points:
The stock market is not the economy. They’re different.
Top 10% own 93% of equities.
Biden did tank the economy.
I should not have written economy, my mistake. But, very unsurprised you didn’t answer the question. When the “market” crashed during the tenures of Biden and Obama, did you say it’s all good, natural occurrence, happens every couple years, and it’s healthy for the market?
2015 was my most profitable year trading.
I make money no matter the direction of the market.
So no answer again?
When it comes to the market, I try my best to have zero emotions involved. Blame pays nothing. Price action does. I didn’t blame, nor give credit, to any politician
no he didn’t he brought down inflation from 2022/8 % – 2.9% in 2024 , increased employment by 20m, the GDP grew in 2025 by 2.8%, stock market grew very nicely……….and now in the first mths of ol donny boy…it’s a fucken train wreck….now the USA economy is tanking…..
You celebrate the arsonist Biden for torching the house, then returning to the scene with a bucket of water.
His wild Green New Deal spending spree cooked the economy. He caused interest rates to climb, killing small business lending. He sends inflation to 8%, and it was only actions by the Fed that navigated his shit storm. He deserves zero credit.
His job growth was smoke and mirrors. Every single “announcement” was later revised down. Huge growth in government jobs. Job growth for foreign born workers while Americans got pink slipped.
His corruption is only beginning to.be fully realized. His whole fucking family.
Doooooood your understanding of econimics is elementary at best. Interest rates are raised when the economy is too hot and there is too much cash on hand, and lowers them when they want to increase cash flows.
Biden was the cause of too much cash on hand ya fuckwit
First off the President doesn’t decide interest rates, but if you would like to play that game we can.
Trump
2019 – 3 interest rate cuts (25 basis point a pop)
2020 – 2 interest rate cuts (50 and 100 points)
Biden
2022 – 2023 – 11 interest rate increases
2024 – 4 interest rate cuts
So please explain to me how Biden increased cash flows while increasing interest rates.
Edit: fucked up the last sentence
Listen you smug piece of shit, how the fuck do you think all that cash got into the economy? When Biden SIGNED into law his bs green new deal shit. When he extended COVID stimulus checks to everyone.
Smug? Explaining simple economcis is smug? You’ve gone soft Otto.
Who the fuck do you think demanded that interest rates get cut prior to COVID, during a supposed “booming” economy. Your boy Trump. If the ecoonomy was booming as much as he clained he wouldnt want interest rates to to be cut.
COVID checks did not increase cashflows. Non-forgivable PPP loans to the tune of $953B under Trump and demanding that the fed lowers interest rates did.
Yeah, smug. I don’t like smug attitude, and you deserve slaps across that smug grill of yours. The Fed is independent. Trump’s demands BEFORE COVID neither forced the Fed’s hands nor contributed to the huge influx of cash.
Don’t like the attitude? AHAHHAH cry about it. Facts don’t care about your feelings! AHAHAHAH
Ok so how is Biden responsible for cash influxes then? Since the President has no bearing on the Fed. Yet you claimed in your earlier comment that Biden caused increased interest rates.
I’d rather smash your smug face in.
There was absolutely zero reason for Biden to sign the $1.6Trillion ARPA. None. He should have left well enough alone.
ARPA…innovative research and technical development….credited with breakthrus like…the internet…….
The good news is skilled people being fired in the USA are now heading to China…….the USA cannot replace them, which probably means more MAGA supporters until they eat don’s shit sanwhich!
Of course you would! When people can’t understand things they tend to resort to anger and violence since their simple minds can’t comprehend contention so they resport to theyre physical emotions. It’s okay Otto, its a completely normal reaction.
Just so you’re aware a 25 point basis cut is equivalent to $3.8B in cash flows for the enite American population , not including the increased cash flows to businesses. For context, under Trump basis points were cut 225 points. You do the math. (Thats 855B to civilians alone, smug included 😉
This is the last goal post move ill address; so Biden’s ARPA is unacceptlabe but Trumps stimulus checks and PPP (no-payback) are okay? Why can’t bothe be okay or both be bad. If we are using the logic of waste, which I assume you are, botha are bad. no? Or is it the “team” they play for that determines which one is bad or good? For the record, I think Biden sucked ass on many policies but to say his economic decisoins were bad is retarded at best.
Economists across the board agree ARPA was kerosene thrown on a dying fire.
You’re fucking rude. That’s why you deserve your face smashed in
Econimist across the board agree that Tariffs and Trade wars are detremental to economies. But I digress
You know, I dont think I am being rude. What I do find rude is when people who are presented with fact resort to violence. Kind of a pussy move, and shows that you have nothing to argue. I am happy to entertain your tough guy attitude when you leave your hideaway in Montana. Ill be in Oceanside, let me know when you show up. 🙂
“Doooooood your understanding of econimics is elementary at best.”
Yes, you’re being fucking rude. Your posts always start with some sort of insult.
Glad you’re happy to entertain. I’m up in OC and am more than happy to travel to Oceanside.
What is the rude part of that sentence? dooooood is like cmon man.
I am being rude yet youre the one throwing personal insults on the regualar. You sound like a boomer that has finally been called out on some shit. Its sad. Grow a pair you online warrior. You wont do shit.
I’ll drive down to Oceanside whenever you’d like. Name the place
Larry’s. Be there or be square.
Shitty little dive bar. Perfect. See you there tomorrow
Safe drives in the rain.
Looking forward to meeting you
So, where you at?
work, like a normal person
Figured that wasn’t your green mini motorbike out front.
I’m off tomorrow I’ll fuckin drive up and have Otto’s back
Im off to Mexico tomorrow so you and Otto can rub each others backs without me
Is you’re fucking rude on par with you disrespected me? Pussy rednecks
No Otto….your own USA Stats/data show the stats I posted as true…..the unemployment was 3.6% under Biden now at 4.1 % under donny…….the whole joke is that American workers have close to full employment and still not good enough…….the work that the americans wouldn’t do has to be done by someone….cleaning/mowing/nannying/fruit picking etc…..
corruption …….tumps a grifter with a few of his associates…….watch as his MAGA poor folks eat a shit sandwich,LOL!!
The stock market is not the economy. But try explaining that to middle class folks, especially those retired, who lost 10-15% of their 401ks over the few weeks because the president is bipolar, has tiny dick syndrome and has scores to settle. If Bonespur can create a budget surplus in four years like was last accomplished by Clinton, I’ll suck his 2 inch died orange mushroom.
Of course not. These maga dorks are all phonies. trump tanked the economy once, biden fixed it. now he’s off to another rock solid start. i know it’ll come back in about 5-6 years when we get someone who knows wtf they are doing.
Alfred: “Oh, buggar off! I just stopped by for a spot of tea!”