I just want a fast dumb awd electric sports hatch. Think WRX but electric.

No self driving

No internet connection

No cameras

No screens

Nothing to update

Analog dials

Simple twist knobs for air con

Is that really too hard?

Case in point

They lose their mind when you tell them the aged pension costs the taxpayer 5x what unemployment benefits do

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook45p/WelfareCost

The thing is, electric motors are so efficient that even hauling the mass of the batteries they are still more efficient than old fashioned internal combustion engines.

Nothing to do with your individual actions? Really? So there's no difference between someone who works their ass off in school / uni and someone who just fucks around and drops out? I get that the children of the richest 1% can fail successfully, but for the bottom 99% you have to have some substance in order to succeed.

I'm a GP Anaesthetist

With respect, you are not a doctor. You have no concept of how complex the decisions are around prescribing medications. Do you know the number needed to treat vs number needed to harm for Paxlovid?. Do you have any idea what the drug does and in which populations it has been studied?

You're young and healthy. You don't need Paxlovid. End of story. It's only indicated for over 70s / immunosuppressed / significant cardiorespiratory comorbidity to prevent hospitalisation and death. The decision of whether ir not to prescribe a drug is more complex and nuanced that "I have virus, give me virus pill". Do you really think your doctor has never heard of long COVID?

It is not just some magic pill to be thrown around "just in case" to young healthy people anxious about rare complications.

Every time you prescribe it you roll the dice. You might be selecting for a strain that is resistant to Paxlovid. You might have an unwanted side effect or allergy. You might have picked up the last pack from your local pharmacy which means the 80 year old diabetic with a kidney transplant can't get it.

I smoke two joints in the morning..

Ahhh so that's why.... Fuckin dymocks. Took a month for my order to get here and on top of it all now this.

I've got a Brompton, it's been great but there are a few tiny drawbacks.

Number one, it's expensive. Mine cost $2750 AUD

Build quality is great but the bike is probably not for you if you're over 180cm.

The 16 inch wheels feel a bit squirrely at high speed, and are the perfect width for getting stuck in tram tracks.

Carrying it folded is a bit awkward for anything over about 100m. It's light for a bike but it doesn't weigh nothing.

I put unidirectional casters on the back to replace the original hard plastic wheels to make it easier to push around in the supermarket when folded. These are loud and often catch on my heels when pedaling. If you're going to do that I'd recommend the softer plastic or the modified seat rack with the extendable wheel thingy.

Wheeling it around the shops mostly folded with the seat post up can result in the bike unfolding itself at unexpected moments, best to wheel it with the handlebar bit unfolded instead, although this does make the steering a bit awkward at times.

The mudguard is plastic and can break easily.

Now the pros:

It folds up quite nicely with the chain sandwiched between the 2 halves of the bike so it doesn't get grease on your pants or bag when sitting with it.

The hub gears can be changed from a standstill, which is great for taking off from the lights on moderate hills.

It fits into almost any space when folded. Car footwell. Train seats. Trams. Under your desk at work. You name it. You won't be impinging on other passengers with it folded up beside you.

Brakes are good. Seat is comfortable.

You can fit a spare inner tube and toolkit inside the frame for emergencies. It also comes with a small bicycle pump which does the job in a pinch.

Those are my thoughts. Was it worth it? I think yes, even though I rarely use it for public transport these days it's nice to throw in the car on a whim and take it with me so I can ride around at my destination. I use it more for fun than commuting

I bet the pilot is the kind of person who nails throwing their rubbish into the wastepaper basket from across the room every time.

Not only super flammable, but will also just fuckin drop a 200kg branch on your head without warning. For fun.