Boris Chern

The truth, what is the truth? Growing up it was defined for me by my parents and the community that I grew up in. Older still it was defined by the answers that would let you pass the exams There was so much to learn that you didn’t have time to really research into a topic. The media defined what the truth was. You were working on your career and generally accepted what was told to you. Busy rushing around you didn’t think much about the truth. But the cracks were appearing, the first was as achild of the 1970’s we were all worried about global cooling. But the switch to the global warming narrative by the same organisation was perplexing. My childhood concerns about cooling was wrong? and it’s about warming? Surely I remember correctly? That eventually led to me researching everything that didn’t feel right. Always going to the source and ignoring the headlines Over time you realise so much of what you held as truth was far from it. Twitter is good for a lead but generally doesn’t go into enough depth for you to see for yourself what the truth is. I like the longer format and keen to see how it goes for exploring together in depth on topics I think I know what the truth is. It has been a slow journey but I hope I am closer to the truth.

People who hear the expression "peace through strength" thinks it is a Trump specific phrase. But it is an idea as old as recorded history. Plato first mentioned it 400 BC, and various other scholars and rulers have mentioned this idea since, it was at the core of Roman philosophy towards maintaining a peaceful society. Was it a successful strategy? Well they only lasted between 500 to 1400 years. On the other hand Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement giving Hilter the territories he wanted in exchange for a promise of peace. The German invasion of Europe started the following year in 1940. Plato of Athens would have said this to Donald Trump. “O Trump, guardian of your Republic in these turbulent times— He who desires peace must prepare for war. Not out of love for conflict, but because the just city arms its guardians with virtue, discipline, and unyielding strength. Weakness invites the tyrant and the barbarian alike. In my Laws, I taught that the wise legislator frames all for victory in war so that peace may follow with glory. Build not illusions of eternal harmony without iron in the soul and steel in the hand. Rule as the philosopher-king tempered by the warrior: strong enough to deter foes, wise enough to choose peace when victory is secured. Only the dead have seen the end of war—but the vigilant keep it at bay. — Plato of Athens”

Mother's Day tomorrow, but not everyone look forward to this day. There are people who will celebrate mother's Day and not Father's Day. I think of Elon Musk, who definitely would celebrate his mother, but his father, probably a very different story. Lots to people, lots of different stories and not everyone celebrates every designated Days. If someone tomorrow just nods and not say much about Mother's Day, leave them be, they may not have the same experience with their mother that you have with your mother. ❤️

I must admit that I used to think out loud- okay I talk to myself when I'm working on a problem. But theses days I tend to talk to grok a lot. Can run any idea past him and he always has something useful to say. Never rude or offensive and unlimited knowledge, not a bad sidekick to have for solving problems. And he has completely changed my viewing and reading habits. 30 minute long videos- is it a click bait story or is it worth the investment of time? 10 seconds and I have an answer. A news report, a summary in seconds and you can research it in any direction that interests you. A funny thing might happen on YouTube- I wonder how many are only watching seconds of a video and getting AI to analyse the video?

Tomorrow bring flower moon, a full moon associated with the blooming of flowers across North America. It is peak Spring there and in other regions it's also known as milk moon ( cows needs milking three times a day) and also planting moon- peak spring, yes a great time for planting new crops. Look up and remember that for our ancestors it was a time when milk was plentiful as well as the work associated with extra milking and planting of crops.

Oxytocin is the only hormone we can give and share. No needles involved and you get back as well. Hug someone for 20+ seconds, cuddle, laugh together, sing dance together or pet your dog—and it surges in both of you. Mutual bonding, trust, and calm, no overdose risk. And science has shown that it lowers your cortisol levels, helps you relax and sleep, helps your fat metabolism and even helps with hair loss. And what you give, you get back- is there a better hormone out there?

Growing up in Cairns in the 1970's I was terrified about global cooling- though I thought it wouldn't be too bad in Cairns. Then when the story became one of global warming I was a little confused, did I remember correctly? I am sure it was global cooling. Then of course came Al Gore who made many predictions about global warming and along the way enriched himself by 500 million dollars. Not a single one of his predictions had come true and now he is warning about global cooling within the next 25 years. Will people forget the years of fear about global warming and go back to global cooling story and the world continues to spend trillions of dollars on preventing warming to spend trillions on dollars on preventing cooling? Who will even remember the change in the narrative- an inconvenient truth perhaps?

@HowThingsWork_ I think there are modern versions of this, would make sense if you were peeling hundreds of apples- I guess.

A Vintage Apple peeler from the late 1980's. Actually crazy how much effort was put into solving a simple task. 👏

It's funny, even in Australia there are people who see themselves as caring left leaning Liberals who has fantasies about killing Donald Trump. They never stop to think about their beliefs that leads them into having murderous thoughts. Is that really healthy?

@ViktorKlopp Interesting isn't it? People seem to forget why every culture moved to pans and pans as soon as they were available.

Why is it better not to cook food on hot stones

Our friend was showing off her European handmade clothes, she was so proud and happy- until my son pipe up and said actually all clothes are handmade- just that yours is made by a European in nice surroundings and mine is made by an Asian in a factory somewhere.

@Rainmaker1973 He is showing off how powerful his pressure washer is. Yes you can have a too strong pressure washer and you will end up damaging everything rather than just cleaning stuff

The satisfying pressure washing of a wooden pallet.

One of the little things that really stood out while moving between work spots in Burnie, Tasmania and Redcliffe in Queensland was the handshake culture. Aussies generally do a proper handshake when meeting someone—firm grip, eye contact, quick and genuine. It’s that classic no-fuss greeting that says “good to meet you” without overdoing it. But the vibe and the hands themselves change depending on where you are. In Burnie, it was consistent across pretty much everyone—men and women, every age group. Rough, calloused “working hands” with real strength behind the shake, even from folks whose day jobs didn’t scream manual labour. It felt like the whole town carried that practical Tasmanian energy: straightforward, egalitarian, and built from years of real yakka. You knew straight away you were dealing with people who stay active and grounded. Down in Redcliffe, the contrast was noticeable. Greetings were still friendly, but the hands were often softer, and the shakes more variable—sometimes just a lighter touch or a quick smile instead. One lady particularly stood out: she was quietly proud of keeping her nails inch-long for over forty years. Beautifully maintained, no rough edges at all. It spoke to a different coastal, suburban rhythm—lighter daily chores, more focus on looking after yourself, and maybe a touch of that traditional Queensland ease. It’s amazing how a simple handshake can tell you so much about a place and its people. Burnie’s firm, no-nonsense grip versus Redcliffe’s more varied, polished style. Australia’s full of these subtle regional differences once you start noticing the everyday rituals. Anyone else picked up on big handshake or greeting contrasts when shifting between Aussie states or towns? The hands (and the stories they quietly tell) never lie. 👋 Do you shake hands?

@HowThingsWork_ I would used a magnetised bit.

Smart idea or not needed? 🤔

In medicine, we've traded brilliant doctors for rigid systems. Sharp rational intelligent analysis and decision making has been replaced by diagnostic algorithms. Long ago if you complain about an headache, a seasoned doctor would listen to your symptoms examine you and make a decision whether further investigations was necessary or simple analgesia would do. Theses days mentioned headaches and your doctor would get bloods taken and you will be lucky to escape without a CT head. Clinical skills and intellect replaced with blood tests and imaging. You may have expected Dr House, but you are going to get a series of tests instead.

@Biobuilding_ It has been around since 2015 and haven't taken off. But as a dyier I would love this to do a small job like a garden edging, a bbq or a post. The extra cost of the product would be offset by the ease of its use for a dyi job.

Builders in Germany don’t mix mortar anymore… they use this.

One of Italy’s wildest unsolved scandals: 1982 Banco Ambrosiano collapse & the murder of “God’s Banker” Roberto Calvi. His bank had a ~$1.5B hole, deep ties to the Vatican Bank (IOR), Sicilian Mafia money laundering, and the rogue P2 Masonic lodge (“state within a state”). Calvi fled to London. On June 18, 1982, his body was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge — pockets stuffed with bricks + ~$14,000 in mixed currencies + fake passport. Initial ruling? Suicide. But the staging was blatant theater: - Blackfriars = direct nod to P2’s “frati neri” (“black friars”) — they wore black robes and called themselves that. A grim Masonic warning to insiders. - Bricks = Masonic symbolism for a “failed builder” or treacherous mason (P2 loved stonemasonry metaphors). Forensics later showed no fingerprints from Calvi on them, no scaffolding residue on his shoes, and neck injuries suggesting he was strangled first. - The cash? Mockery of the greedy launderer who lost their money. Forensics (1998 exhumation onward) proved murder. Mafia likely supplied the muscle (over vanished funds + blackmail fears), P2 the ritual flair to send a message to their network. Vatican ties ran deep but stayed conveniently silent. No one was ever convicted — the rushed “suicide” call bought 20+ years of cover while evidence faded and witnesses clammed up. Well played by the web of power. Same day Calvi was ousted (June 17), his longtime personal secretary Graziella Corrocher “jumped” from a high window at the Milan HQ. She left an angry note scrawled in bright red ink: “May Calvi be twice cursed for the damage he has caused to the bank and all its employees.” Ruled suicide with almost zero scrutiny (no exhumation, no deep forensics like Calvi’s). But why would a furious insider with access to the sensitive books jump instead of spilling everything? The timing screams cleanup. Too convenient. 43+ years later (2026), it’s still officially unsolved. A perfect storm of mafia pragmatism, Masonic symbolism, and institutional silence. The theatrical staging wasn’t about hiding the kill — it was about warning anyone else who knew too much. It also shows that if you have enough money and power you can get away with murder(s). And a case where "conspiracy theorists" were completely right in their concerns about the Vatican, the elites, the Masons and other shadowy figures.

A quiet generational shift in mindset: A few generations ago, people crossed oceans with nothing but grit and gut instinct. They endured brutal voyages, arrived with empty pockets, and built lives through sheer determination—because staying put often meant famine, war, or poverty. Failure wasn't a bruised ego; it was survival on the line. As a migrant child, I studied and worked in the family business only having 3-5 days off each year. My wife a fourth generation grazer was driving by the time she was six years old and worked dawn to dusk daily. Now our colleagues are worry about burnout from what feels like a breeze compared to our past realities. Work hours have dropped dramatically over decades, yet reports of stress and burnout—especially among young people has increased. Safer systems, better awareness of mental health, and stronger boundaries are real progress. No one should romanticize exhaustion. But something valuable risks fading: the muscle of resilience forged in discomfort, the willingness to step up when needed, and the understanding that purposeful effort (even modest overtime) builds rather than breaks most people. The capacity for hard work hasn't vanished—it's just framed differently. When necessity fades, do we still choose the grind that forges character and progress? Or does comfort quietly erode the very determination that got us here?

@MattWallace888 They are just yoga asanas... when was self care a crime or dismissible offence

This old lady was going to make a fuss in the pet store. She asked a staff member for a trolley, then got a fellow customer to lift the 5kg bag of cat litter onto it for her. Now she’s in the line in front of me, telling the teller all about her bad back. She then asked the teller if she could come out to the car park to lift the bag off her trolley and put it in her car. Of course the teller did it, while the rest of us stood there waiting. I’m just wondering who’s going to take it out of her car when she gets home.

Good Friday in Australia is about seafood fresh prawns by the kilogram, fish and shellfish too But perhaps we lost sight of the reason why. The tradition of eating seafood (particularly fish) on Good Friday stems from ancient Christian practices of abstinence from meat as a form of penance and commemoration of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, which occurred on a Friday ( now remembered as Good Friday) Early Christians would not not have Meat but actually fasted, and it was every Friday. Catholics still observe this tradition to some degree as it's usually fish for them on Fridays. Who remembers fish and chips on Fridays? It definitely wasn't meant to be a seafood feast as it has evolved to in Australia or an extra long weekend to get away.