Anyone reading The Australian today might be forgiven for thinking that they'd time warped back to the 1970's. With Gillard's help the unions are poised to crush Australia's employment prospects and drive small businesses into closing. Add smaller educational facilities to that list as well.
The new wage structures and conditions will affect small business, casual labour, Uni students, restaurants, and the list goes on. Already many small businesses are suggesting that they will have to reduce their work forces by 25% or put prices up by that amount. This will cause them to lose customers and so be forced to drop staff.
While this occurs about 100,000 skilled labourers are being imported to guaranteed jobs every year, i.e, foreigners will get preference over locals. Critical economic analysis points out that the current recession is nothing like the last two so Treasury predictions are worthless. All the world's major economies contracted by about 4.5% based on the most recent measurement and this is likely to continue.
Do the math. 25% contraction in small business staff levels, 4.5% contraction in the economy for the next year at least (probably a few more after that) and suddenly the unemployment figures look closer to 2 million than one and double digits are assured.
Into that mess are stepping the unions with full sized hob nailed boots. They want 26 weeks paid maternity leave, they want full control of all companies even when they have a minority of membership. They want all controls removed, pattern bargaining returned, standardised wages regardless of the individual situations. So they want to add another layer of stress to what is looking to be a very stressful work force.
This with what looks to be the full backing of Labor. They are certainly not on the side of the Australian citizens.
Now add less money for pensioners and what amounts to punishment to self-funded retirees. What does this all add up to?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
North Korea - Syria - Iran
The recent nuclear test in North Korea begs the question, how much is Iran involved?
When the Israelis bombed the plant in Syria that was a project with North Korea and Iran. Pakistan has given technology to both parties and both want nuclear weapons despite what the leaders might say publicly.
So the weak Western world waits for the UN to wrote their next sternly worded response and secretly they all hole that Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear capability back to the Stone Age. About the only thing standing in the way at the moment is the head in the clouds Obama who either knows nothing about Islam or is an agent for it.
When the Israelis bombed the plant in Syria that was a project with North Korea and Iran. Pakistan has given technology to both parties and both want nuclear weapons despite what the leaders might say publicly.
So the weak Western world waits for the UN to wrote their next sternly worded response and secretly they all hole that Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear capability back to the Stone Age. About the only thing standing in the way at the moment is the head in the clouds Obama who either knows nothing about Islam or is an agent for it.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Multicultural Clashes
The following example is from Toronto Canada. It is not made up but a real situation that if it happened in Canada could happen anywhere.
A an outraged neighbour filed a complaint against another tenant to the landlady over "an apparently inappropriate hallway interaction with his wife." The tenant tried to remember what he might have said to anyone that could have been misinterpreted.
It turns out the conversations went something like "Good Morning." No, that was about it. The target was a Muslim woman and her husband took offence. Why? Because a man cannot speak directly to a Muslim's wife. This offence led to warnings and illusions to the offender's imminent death.
On the one hand there is the basic Western politeness that leads one to say hello to your neighbour. On the other is the Muslim traditions brought into a foreign country. The Muslim is not expected to adopt any of the host countries traditions or norms but all in the host country are expected to adhere to the foreign rules.
In Australia the can lead to be charged in some States under religious vilification laws. In other States the risk is being charged under cultural insensitivity laws. Never for the foreigners, only for the Australians, and usually only white ones.
Int he Canadian case the 'offender' has to turn his back when the couple passes, never make eye contact and never hold the elevator for them, no matter what. Of course in our society if you started doing that you would be called a xenophobe and the behaviour would be cited as the reason why Muslim immigrants feel alienated in our country.
When is common sense gong to take over and we stand up and say "enough is enough" ?
A an outraged neighbour filed a complaint against another tenant to the landlady over "an apparently inappropriate hallway interaction with his wife." The tenant tried to remember what he might have said to anyone that could have been misinterpreted.
It turns out the conversations went something like "Good Morning." No, that was about it. The target was a Muslim woman and her husband took offence. Why? Because a man cannot speak directly to a Muslim's wife. This offence led to warnings and illusions to the offender's imminent death.
On the one hand there is the basic Western politeness that leads one to say hello to your neighbour. On the other is the Muslim traditions brought into a foreign country. The Muslim is not expected to adopt any of the host countries traditions or norms but all in the host country are expected to adhere to the foreign rules.
In Australia the can lead to be charged in some States under religious vilification laws. In other States the risk is being charged under cultural insensitivity laws. Never for the foreigners, only for the Australians, and usually only white ones.
Int he Canadian case the 'offender' has to turn his back when the couple passes, never make eye contact and never hold the elevator for them, no matter what. Of course in our society if you started doing that you would be called a xenophobe and the behaviour would be cited as the reason why Muslim immigrants feel alienated in our country.
When is common sense gong to take over and we stand up and say "enough is enough" ?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Aboriginal Respect
My guiding principle since I was young has been (well one of them anyway) is that respect is earned, not automatically given.
The earning of respect can be as simple as keeping your word or doing things that benefit others. In general people who waste, are lazy, are abusive, are drunks, rape children, commit crimes, demand unequal benefits and so on are not worthy of respect.
With some exceptions and in general Aborigines in Australian have not earned my respect. In all matters of welfare they are given more than any other group. They are essentially a welfare society living of the backs of hard working Australians.
Due to a genetic predisposition, exposure to alcohol has a swiftly debilitation effect on their body. They are not productive. In almost every case where they have taken over a farm, land, a house, a dairy etc. within a few weeks it has been trashed and made useless.
Aboriginals are a hunter gather culture, not a farming, building or maintaining one. The whole Lost Generation claim has turned out to be one scam after another. They break laws and are released or ignored. While this is fast becoming the norm for the rest of the society they have enjoyed this favored status for a while longer.
All of this based on a guilt trip that started back in colonial times.
I can respect a talented Aboriginal footballer as much as I can respect someone like Ablett. I can respect one who has completed their education and are earning their living or putting something back into the country. These are however the exceptions and the vast majority are takers.
The claim huge tracts of land which they do nothing more with than hunt. Sometimes they hunt with shotguns and call this their traditional hunting right.
I have the same lack of respect for any group that does the same thing. Nearly 100% of say all Egyptians that come to Australian live on welfare. There are others that also have a very low contribution rate. Why then are we still bringing them in?
Why does an estimated 350,000 of which about 100,000 are pure blood have claim to so much land. No one else in the world treats conquered people with such benefit, particularly when they are getting nothing back.
I suspect that if anyone every reads this that they may feel "offended" I challenge them to provide substantive examples that the Aboriginal culture contributes in any material way to the well being or growth of Australia.
Airy fairy "they give us culture" responses are not in any way material or substantive.
The earning of respect can be as simple as keeping your word or doing things that benefit others. In general people who waste, are lazy, are abusive, are drunks, rape children, commit crimes, demand unequal benefits and so on are not worthy of respect.
With some exceptions and in general Aborigines in Australian have not earned my respect. In all matters of welfare they are given more than any other group. They are essentially a welfare society living of the backs of hard working Australians.
Due to a genetic predisposition, exposure to alcohol has a swiftly debilitation effect on their body. They are not productive. In almost every case where they have taken over a farm, land, a house, a dairy etc. within a few weeks it has been trashed and made useless.
Aboriginals are a hunter gather culture, not a farming, building or maintaining one. The whole Lost Generation claim has turned out to be one scam after another. They break laws and are released or ignored. While this is fast becoming the norm for the rest of the society they have enjoyed this favored status for a while longer.
All of this based on a guilt trip that started back in colonial times.
I can respect a talented Aboriginal footballer as much as I can respect someone like Ablett. I can respect one who has completed their education and are earning their living or putting something back into the country. These are however the exceptions and the vast majority are takers.
The claim huge tracts of land which they do nothing more with than hunt. Sometimes they hunt with shotguns and call this their traditional hunting right.
I have the same lack of respect for any group that does the same thing. Nearly 100% of say all Egyptians that come to Australian live on welfare. There are others that also have a very low contribution rate. Why then are we still bringing them in?
Why does an estimated 350,000 of which about 100,000 are pure blood have claim to so much land. No one else in the world treats conquered people with such benefit, particularly when they are getting nothing back.
I suspect that if anyone every reads this that they may feel "offended" I challenge them to provide substantive examples that the Aboriginal culture contributes in any material way to the well being or growth of Australia.
Airy fairy "they give us culture" responses are not in any way material or substantive.
Gitmo Jihadists in Prisons
"He wasn't raised this way. All this happened when he became a Muslim in prison." This is becoming a fairly common statement when relatives find out their their relative has set off a bomb or has been caught planning something.
Now take expert level Jihadists and put them in US prisons from say Gitmo. There is little or no control of Islamic proselytizing in prisons, anywhere in Western nations, though Christian proselytizing is fairly strictly controlled.
Islamists preach hate because it is part of their religion so it is not a "hate crime" when a Christian say does the same thing, since it is not part of their religion it is a "hate crime." I can only assume that those making such pronouncements use a different dictionary than I do. Just because it is formalised in a religion does not make it any less real.
Now take expert level Jihadists and put them in US prisons from say Gitmo. There is little or no control of Islamic proselytizing in prisons, anywhere in Western nations, though Christian proselytizing is fairly strictly controlled.
Islamists preach hate because it is part of their religion so it is not a "hate crime" when a Christian say does the same thing, since it is not part of their religion it is a "hate crime." I can only assume that those making such pronouncements use a different dictionary than I do. Just because it is formalised in a religion does not make it any less real.
Pray for No Wars
If Australian was attacked today all those Leftists would be suddenly screaming for US assistance.
Why? Because anything more than a large boy scout troop would conquer Australian in a couple of weeks. Australian is under manned, has a poor collection of weapons and equipment, cannot provide air superiority, cannot stop a refugee boat let along any serious craft.
The current plan is for a redeveloped ADF by 2030 according to the perennially in the future plans of PM Rudd. The vast majority of ADF members are Public Servants, i.e. they could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag if they had to. This means that most of the defense spending in not on the military itself but on all those admin staff.
The current range of military leaders are of the same ilk as those who left the prisoners of war back on Ambon after the Japanese had surrendered because the Japanese stationed there told the arriving ships to leave, which they promptly did as advised by the boys back in Canberra.
The current leadership would happily sacrifice undermanned and supplied Australian soldiers, actually they are doing that now with their current standard operating procedures in say Afghanistan.
Why? Because anything more than a large boy scout troop would conquer Australian in a couple of weeks. Australian is under manned, has a poor collection of weapons and equipment, cannot provide air superiority, cannot stop a refugee boat let along any serious craft.
The current plan is for a redeveloped ADF by 2030 according to the perennially in the future plans of PM Rudd. The vast majority of ADF members are Public Servants, i.e. they could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag if they had to. This means that most of the defense spending in not on the military itself but on all those admin staff.
The current range of military leaders are of the same ilk as those who left the prisoners of war back on Ambon after the Japanese had surrendered because the Japanese stationed there told the arriving ships to leave, which they promptly did as advised by the boys back in Canberra.
The current leadership would happily sacrifice undermanned and supplied Australian soldiers, actually they are doing that now with their current standard operating procedures in say Afghanistan.
Feral Australians in Places Like Thailand
So the woman didn't notice something the size of a towel in her handbag that [allegedly] someone else put there.
When accused of stealing she abuses the local police force, compares herself to Michelle Corby (which is appropriate because a boogie board is about the same size as the bar mat) and then decides that is a good idea to overtly try and bribe a policeman.
Now she is back in Australia saying that she will never go to Thailand again. The winner is Thailand they will never have to put up with Australian white trash stealing in their country again.
Some Australians feel that since their own legal system has collapsed and people can do just about whatever they want for no jail time that they can go to another country and do the same thing. Then they expect to be treated in the same way forgetting that other countries may have laws that they actually enforce rather than give that next stern warming.
In this case the woman was lucky, stealing is not considered a trivial offense in Thailand. She could have faced jail time in a lovely Thai prison. Me, I would have locked her up for a few days for being an offense to humankind then sent her home. Perhaps the next country she tries that in will not be as kind, people like that never learn their arrogance won't let them believe that they were in the wrong.
When accused of stealing she abuses the local police force, compares herself to Michelle Corby (which is appropriate because a boogie board is about the same size as the bar mat) and then decides that is a good idea to overtly try and bribe a policeman.
Now she is back in Australia saying that she will never go to Thailand again. The winner is Thailand they will never have to put up with Australian white trash stealing in their country again.
Some Australians feel that since their own legal system has collapsed and people can do just about whatever they want for no jail time that they can go to another country and do the same thing. Then they expect to be treated in the same way forgetting that other countries may have laws that they actually enforce rather than give that next stern warming.
In this case the woman was lucky, stealing is not considered a trivial offense in Thailand. She could have faced jail time in a lovely Thai prison. Me, I would have locked her up for a few days for being an offense to humankind then sent her home. Perhaps the next country she tries that in will not be as kind, people like that never learn their arrogance won't let them believe that they were in the wrong.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kevin Rudd Re-election Scenarios - Ver 1.0
1. The Coalition Gets In
Australia will face a tightening of the belts as the Coalition starts the long and hard road to reverse the B$180-$300 deficit.
Treasury is sacked and replaced by people who can add and present reasonable fact out to 12 months.
2. Labour Gets Back In
2a. Kevin Sits for the Full Term
Deficit balloons out to B$500, boat people arrive in droves and all plans deferred to 2014.
Unemployment hits double digits, inflation starts in and interest rates rise.
Left media suddenly finds out that they might have been saying the wrong things as the country spirals into a huge hole.
Greens start to get popular and then the Global Warming bubble finally bursts.
2b. Kevin drops out early to take up a UN Position and Gillard becomes Prime Minister - Everybody panic.
Australia will face a tightening of the belts as the Coalition starts the long and hard road to reverse the B$180-$300 deficit.
Treasury is sacked and replaced by people who can add and present reasonable fact out to 12 months.
2. Labour Gets Back In
2a. Kevin Sits for the Full Term
Deficit balloons out to B$500, boat people arrive in droves and all plans deferred to 2014.
Unemployment hits double digits, inflation starts in and interest rates rise.
Left media suddenly finds out that they might have been saying the wrong things as the country spirals into a huge hole.
Greens start to get popular and then the Global Warming bubble finally bursts.
2b. Kevin drops out early to take up a UN Position and Gillard becomes Prime Minister - Everybody panic.
Australian Contracts are now Asian
Kevin Rudd is showing his Asian and anti-Western tenancies with the introduction of the new "contract law reforms" Basically it means that if a judge decides that a contract is in any way unfair (subjectively) then it can be declared void.
Contract work in a similar way in Asia but they form the basis of business in the Western World. The measure is to allow those having problems meeting their contracts to delay the process, perhaps with full government support just like in vilification cases and commissions.
The ramifications of such a process should send shock waves throughout the whole business community in Australia. This is of course a socialist measure that is designed to take power away from an individual or company. I wonder how this is going to affect future foreign investment let alone the local versions.
Consider what could be affected: home loans, construction, all infrastructure projects, hire purchase, car loans anything where the full payment is not made up front.
Contract work in a similar way in Asia but they form the basis of business in the Western World. The measure is to allow those having problems meeting their contracts to delay the process, perhaps with full government support just like in vilification cases and commissions.
The ramifications of such a process should send shock waves throughout the whole business community in Australia. This is of course a socialist measure that is designed to take power away from an individual or company. I wonder how this is going to affect future foreign investment let alone the local versions.
Consider what could be affected: home loans, construction, all infrastructure projects, hire purchase, car loans anything where the full payment is not made up front.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Burma - All That's Wrong With the World
Start with a Military Dictatorship then hold an election that they loose. Then they arrest the winning leader and keep her under house arrest for years. The loser gets a Nobel Peace Prize that after Al Gore and Arafat won sadly one made it a useless trophy.
Now have a useless organization do nothing about it for years, or any other country, until finally with a new election looming the leader under arrest is tried for some idiot swimming a lake to visit her.
The result? A stern warning from the useless organization and the rest of the democratic nations doing absolutely nothing about it. This is your world, get used to it.
Now have a useless organization do nothing about it for years, or any other country, until finally with a new election looming the leader under arrest is tried for some idiot swimming a lake to visit her.
The result? A stern warning from the useless organization and the rest of the democratic nations doing absolutely nothing about it. This is your world, get used to it.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Teach Your Children Arabic
I was watching Muslim Demographics and realized that unless something changes our grandchildren will need to learn Arabic.
Not sure of all the figures but I have seen a few of them before. Somewhat scary.
Not sure of all the figures but I have seen a few of them before. Somewhat scary.
Israel and the Left
On the one hand you have Israel, a small nation surrounded by enemies. On the other side you have countries populated by Muslims. Many of them have the formally stated aim to drive the Jews into the sea until not one is left standing. None of these countries has a true democracy.
Why then is the Left controlled West so anti-Israel? Are they secretly Muslims that have subverted the Western World to their own aims? No, the real answer is that the Left has a weird way of looking at things. They don't see 8000 rockets being fired in Israel, they see a family who claims to have been bullied by some Israeli soldiers. It doesn't matter that every time one of these stories comes up it is later found to be flatly untrue because the blind, socialist do-gooders need it to be true. If not they they themselves are morally corrupt.
The Left hate their own countries. Every other non-West country is better. They have better laws, better morals, better food, better treatment of women etc. Anyone with more that two brain cells who reads what happens in a Muslim country knows that none of this is actually true but that doesn't matter. It HAS to be true.
These are the same people who will not immunize their children. They forget that immunization has given the level of protection to be able to make this kind of decision but that is forgotten. They forget polio, smallpox etc.
If say the USA declares that they will not support Israel any more here is what I would do as leader of Israel. I would tell my neighbours that at the first sign of attack I would send my nuclear arsenal to hit Mecca, Medina and the major cities of Iran, Palestine and all the closest cities in Muslim nations. I would do this because I have studied Islam and I know that it is serious about wiping out Israel. It is still part of the charter of Hamas (i.e. official Palestine doctrine). The Left never reads these kind of documents.
Why then is the Left controlled West so anti-Israel? Are they secretly Muslims that have subverted the Western World to their own aims? No, the real answer is that the Left has a weird way of looking at things. They don't see 8000 rockets being fired in Israel, they see a family who claims to have been bullied by some Israeli soldiers. It doesn't matter that every time one of these stories comes up it is later found to be flatly untrue because the blind, socialist do-gooders need it to be true. If not they they themselves are morally corrupt.
The Left hate their own countries. Every other non-West country is better. They have better laws, better morals, better food, better treatment of women etc. Anyone with more that two brain cells who reads what happens in a Muslim country knows that none of this is actually true but that doesn't matter. It HAS to be true.
These are the same people who will not immunize their children. They forget that immunization has given the level of protection to be able to make this kind of decision but that is forgotten. They forget polio, smallpox etc.
If say the USA declares that they will not support Israel any more here is what I would do as leader of Israel. I would tell my neighbours that at the first sign of attack I would send my nuclear arsenal to hit Mecca, Medina and the major cities of Iran, Palestine and all the closest cities in Muslim nations. I would do this because I have studied Islam and I know that it is serious about wiping out Israel. It is still part of the charter of Hamas (i.e. official Palestine doctrine). The Left never reads these kind of documents.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Angels and Demons - Idiot Director
What is it with Hollywood? They take a story and change it.
The new Angels and Demons movie is a classic example. In the book the bad guys are the Muslims. Ron Howard, someone up until today I had some respect for, went and changed the bad guys to the Catholics. Then moaned when the Vatican did not give him filming access.
What an idiot. For some politically correct (and completely inaccurate view of Islam) he changed the story so that it no longer made sense. This is not a movie I will be paying any money to see if I bother watching it at all. I read the book and Ron Howard's changes will ruin the whole storyline.
Anyone who knows nothing or very little about Islam or has never read the book will probably still enjoy it.
The new Angels and Demons movie is a classic example. In the book the bad guys are the Muslims. Ron Howard, someone up until today I had some respect for, went and changed the bad guys to the Catholics. Then moaned when the Vatican did not give him filming access.
What an idiot. For some politically correct (and completely inaccurate view of Islam) he changed the story so that it no longer made sense. This is not a movie I will be paying any money to see if I bother watching it at all. I read the book and Ron Howard's changes will ruin the whole storyline.
Anyone who knows nothing or very little about Islam or has never read the book will probably still enjoy it.
Friday, May 15, 2009
In a Western Nation? - Checklist
Here is a quick checklist to see if you are in a Western Nation
1. Muslims allowed to say anything about Christianity
2. Christians only allowed to praise Islam
3. Sharia Law being considered for implementation
4. Free speech being gradually eroded
5. Socialism (already at best failed experiment) being gradually implemented at all levels
6. Global Warming critics being vilified
7. Obama love fests
8. Attacks by Muslim groups called Asian violence
9. Terrorism being phased out and called something else
10. Universities no longer supporting or defending the scientific method do they can get more funding
11. The majority of all news services only reporting Leftist views
1. Muslims allowed to say anything about Christianity
2. Christians only allowed to praise Islam
3. Sharia Law being considered for implementation
4. Free speech being gradually eroded
5. Socialism (already at best failed experiment) being gradually implemented at all levels
6. Global Warming critics being vilified
7. Obama love fests
8. Attacks by Muslim groups called Asian violence
9. Terrorism being phased out and called something else
10. Universities no longer supporting or defending the scientific method do they can get more funding
11. The majority of all news services only reporting Leftist views
Oops Your Peer Review is Slipping
The Professor from the Uni of NSW keeps hammering that Plimer can only be taken seriously if his work has been peer reviewed.
You peer review papers not books and unlike the so called peer review process inside say the IPCC this needs to be carried out by those members outside of the clique that worked on the original paper.
A book is something you write for the general public, a paper is something you write for a tiny minority of academics that the general public will never read. The language and approach used are not conversational in nature and have a very specific goal in mind, to defend or present a given thesis, often based on the work of others.
A book like Plimer's works in the same way, you take information from various sources and you write a book. The references are there for people to check, this rarely happens.
In the processes surrounding their global warming 'debate' on one side there is little or no peer review carried out or even required. Many senior and respected scientific IPCC reviewers left the IPCC's fold because their reviews were ignored. The average individual cannot get hold of any of the underlying papers and details that make up the IPCC process.
Al Gore managed to get a Nobel peace prize for completely non reviewed work and to this day he refuses to debate any of the assertions he continues to make on his speaking tours.
The assertion that only the work of deniers should be subject to peer review is a self destructive positions, the argument itself is enough to invalidate that position.
You peer review papers not books and unlike the so called peer review process inside say the IPCC this needs to be carried out by those members outside of the clique that worked on the original paper.
A book is something you write for the general public, a paper is something you write for a tiny minority of academics that the general public will never read. The language and approach used are not conversational in nature and have a very specific goal in mind, to defend or present a given thesis, often based on the work of others.
A book like Plimer's works in the same way, you take information from various sources and you write a book. The references are there for people to check, this rarely happens.
In the processes surrounding their global warming 'debate' on one side there is little or no peer review carried out or even required. Many senior and respected scientific IPCC reviewers left the IPCC's fold because their reviews were ignored. The average individual cannot get hold of any of the underlying papers and details that make up the IPCC process.
Al Gore managed to get a Nobel peace prize for completely non reviewed work and to this day he refuses to debate any of the assertions he continues to make on his speaking tours.
The assertion that only the work of deniers should be subject to peer review is a self destructive positions, the argument itself is enough to invalidate that position.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
To Pretty For an Opinion
If you are the President of the United States who is considered the Black reincarnation of God then you can say whatever you like and the Left press will fawn and lap it up.
If you are a white Beauty Pageant girl from California then how dare you say the words. To quote that sometimes lucid TV personality D'oh.
She said something like "I think that marriage should be between a man and a woman but others can think what they like about the issue. [sic]" This sounds perfectly reasonable, it allows for others to have their own opinions but it states what someone believes. Unless of course the person asking it a gay activist and as asked a deliberately stacked question hoping for just such a response.
Cue outrageous indignation. Enter a Leftish press that will vilify someone for expressing such an opinion. Why is it that the majority of our news now comes from a groups of people who range somewhere between moronic and idiotic, who reports things they see on Wikipedia and even if they check do not report both sides of anything?
Please bring back some at least semi-intelligent people to report in the news, please.
If you are a white Beauty Pageant girl from California then how dare you say the words. To quote that sometimes lucid TV personality D'oh.
She said something like "I think that marriage should be between a man and a woman but others can think what they like about the issue. [sic]" This sounds perfectly reasonable, it allows for others to have their own opinions but it states what someone believes. Unless of course the person asking it a gay activist and as asked a deliberately stacked question hoping for just such a response.
Cue outrageous indignation. Enter a Leftish press that will vilify someone for expressing such an opinion. Why is it that the majority of our news now comes from a groups of people who range somewhere between moronic and idiotic, who reports things they see on Wikipedia and even if they check do not report both sides of anything?
Please bring back some at least semi-intelligent people to report in the news, please.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Socialism - Rewarding the Lazy
The Australian budget came down last night and it read as a "we will start doing stuff when you re-elect us" document.
The biggest part of the budget seemed to be aimed at those people who have or want to work for a living. Those retirees who worked and saved and get some Super have been punished with faster deductions from the government contributions.
People who work hard will be taxed more and restaurants will be harder to find on weekends and their margins were just killed by higher weekend wage requirements.
Businesses will be very hesitant about hiring women because they will have to pay a huge amount out when they get pregnant. An apparent loophole means they can go out on the 18 week break and not come back after pocketing that much salary.
Those not working, or slacking off, or pretending to be sick, or who come in on boats, or have a huge bunch of children are being rewarded.
The message from socialist Labor is: "if you don't work and contribute nothing to the country we will support you and give you lots of extra money. If however you work hard, save and try to reduce your burden on society you will be punished."
The biggest part of the budget seemed to be aimed at those people who have or want to work for a living. Those retirees who worked and saved and get some Super have been punished with faster deductions from the government contributions.
People who work hard will be taxed more and restaurants will be harder to find on weekends and their margins were just killed by higher weekend wage requirements.
Businesses will be very hesitant about hiring women because they will have to pay a huge amount out when they get pregnant. An apparent loophole means they can go out on the 18 week break and not come back after pocketing that much salary.
Those not working, or slacking off, or pretending to be sick, or who come in on boats, or have a huge bunch of children are being rewarded.
The message from socialist Labor is: "if you don't work and contribute nothing to the country we will support you and give you lots of extra money. If however you work hard, save and try to reduce your burden on society you will be punished."
Monday, May 11, 2009
Defense Force Whimps
What does a navy do? In peace time they round up boat people in war they blow up the other side's ships and sink them. Some navies have air craft carriers so they also provide air support and so on.
There is a key item in the list, blowing up ships. As a navy member this must be a given so why would you join the navy if seeing such a thing is going to upset you and put you out of action. Worse would you want sailors like that in your navy? Why isn't our navy filtering out such individuals
Australia does. They have at least two of them, out on permanent leave for seeing a fishing boat go up in flames. Not even from any action by the navy, the crew or the passengers did it.
Now ask yourself would you want such individuals fighting for you in defense of your country?
There are more and more cases of people allowed to abdicate from what their chosen roles are. Excuses are given and actively supported by many areas ranging from stress to anything else thought of as a convenient label at the time.
Perhaps we need some real world versions of Chopper (Ronny Johns) in our defense forces?
There is a key item in the list, blowing up ships. As a navy member this must be a given so why would you join the navy if seeing such a thing is going to upset you and put you out of action. Worse would you want sailors like that in your navy? Why isn't our navy filtering out such individuals
Australia does. They have at least two of them, out on permanent leave for seeing a fishing boat go up in flames. Not even from any action by the navy, the crew or the passengers did it.
Now ask yourself would you want such individuals fighting for you in defense of your country?
There are more and more cases of people allowed to abdicate from what their chosen roles are. Excuses are given and actively supported by many areas ranging from stress to anything else thought of as a convenient label at the time.
Perhaps we need some real world versions of Chopper (Ronny Johns) in our defense forces?
Morning TV Shows
If you watch the Australian morning TV shows for more than a day you can draw some easy conclusions.
They all love Obama and Rudd.
They are all at the very least leftward leaning and at worst socialist dogma preaching.
Their audience target are those people with an IQ (subjective) of around 90. Anyone with an IQ of say 110 or higher would find it inane, the discussions trite and the logic flawed.
They all represent what is known as the Chattering Class. Seemingly mindless chatter about all manner of subjects none of which they have even bothered to do any research on. Quite sad really.
They all love Obama and Rudd.
They are all at the very least leftward leaning and at worst socialist dogma preaching.
Their audience target are those people with an IQ (subjective) of around 90. Anyone with an IQ of say 110 or higher would find it inane, the discussions trite and the logic flawed.
They all represent what is known as the Chattering Class. Seemingly mindless chatter about all manner of subjects none of which they have even bothered to do any research on. Quite sad really.
Swan, Taxes, Education and Idiots
If you happen to read The Australian in Letters you will find a section that talks about how lucky Swan is that he didn't have to raise taxes.
This is a perfect example of just how poor the Australian education system has become in basic analytical thinking.
Let's break this down.
The Labor government is borrowing huge amounts of overseas money to fund a spending spree. Think of it as using a credit card with a very large limit. Like credit it attracts taxes and you have to pay it back.
The government is not a profitable enterprise so the only source of income for the government is money from the people. Yes they can sell off national assets but there are not a lot of those left and sell too much and you have lost your country to a foreign power.
That leaves taxes.
So the only way to pay off a deficit/debt is to raise taxes. Just because Swan is not doing it in this budget either leaves it for the next one or the next government. Note that most of Rudd's policies are to occur when the next government comes to power. This provides perfect leverage for the next election as in "well we are going to do it, what is the Opposition going to do?"
Since many Australians seem to be buying this and lack the most basic of arithmetic skills it demonstrates how poor our basic education has become.
This is a perfect example of just how poor the Australian education system has become in basic analytical thinking.
Let's break this down.
The Labor government is borrowing huge amounts of overseas money to fund a spending spree. Think of it as using a credit card with a very large limit. Like credit it attracts taxes and you have to pay it back.
The government is not a profitable enterprise so the only source of income for the government is money from the people. Yes they can sell off national assets but there are not a lot of those left and sell too much and you have lost your country to a foreign power.
That leaves taxes.
So the only way to pay off a deficit/debt is to raise taxes. Just because Swan is not doing it in this budget either leaves it for the next one or the next government. Note that most of Rudd's policies are to occur when the next government comes to power. This provides perfect leverage for the next election as in "well we are going to do it, what is the Opposition going to do?"
Since many Australians seem to be buying this and lack the most basic of arithmetic skills it demonstrates how poor our basic education has become.
The New Star Trek Movie
Watch it.
This was a very cleverly done film. It covers the introduction of all the major characters. It should satisfy any Trekkie and end with a very clever story arc that future proofs any sequels. It has drama, action and humour. Suitable for all ages there is really not a bad thing I could say about this one.
This was a very cleverly done film. It covers the introduction of all the major characters. It should satisfy any Trekkie and end with a very clever story arc that future proofs any sequels. It has drama, action and humour. Suitable for all ages there is really not a bad thing I could say about this one.
Ground Based Measuring Stations
The crux of may of the IPCC's arguments and all of James Hansen's arguments are based on ground based temperature measuring stations. The 'best' of these in the world is cited as the US based stations.
Meteorologist Anthony Watts has been a very busy man. With a number of volunteers he surveyed a large proportion of the measuring stations, took IR photos, checked the types of paints and other detailed analysis methods.
The result show that 7 in 8 are unreliable. Yes that is a lot. This also means that all the other world's stations are probably worse. Bottom line, ground based measurements cannot be trusted. So comments about hottest years, strike them. Temperatures rising since 1998 based on these measurements, rubbish.
The majority of the basis for Global Warming Believer's beliefs, trashed. Not sure what they have left but it really has no 'science' to support it now.
Meteorologist Anthony Watts has been a very busy man. With a number of volunteers he surveyed a large proportion of the measuring stations, took IR photos, checked the types of paints and other detailed analysis methods.
The result show that 7 in 8 are unreliable. Yes that is a lot. This also means that all the other world's stations are probably worse. Bottom line, ground based measurements cannot be trusted. So comments about hottest years, strike them. Temperatures rising since 1998 based on these measurements, rubbish.
The majority of the basis for Global Warming Believer's beliefs, trashed. Not sure what they have left but it really has no 'science' to support it now.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The UK - Ultimate Dhimmi State
For those unfamiliar with the term a Dhimmi is someone who accepts their position as a second class individual in the presence of Islam.
The UK recently changed one of their awards that used a cross to a circle so as "not to offend Muslims and Hindus." I have never met a Hindu that was concerned about the cross as a symbol so I assume that the word "Hindu" was added so as not to seem to Dhimmi.
Their treatment of who gets on or doesn't is also rather strange. Neo-Nazis and extremist Muslims are OK but those wanting to talk about Islam or general Right leaning views are banned. Freedom of Speech in the UK means anything but.
It is getting that way in Australia in places like Victoria where extremist Muslims can spout any amount of hate speech but question what they are saying and you are dragging in front of a Commission.
A Dentist in the UK refuses to treat women unless they wear Islamic dress. He has turned away people in genuine pain because they didn't.
According to the Daily Mail Scotland Yard officers have been stripped of stop and search terror powers over fears of angering Muslims. You might want to read that one again. The group currently responsible for 99.99% of all the world's terror attacks will no longer be checked in case they get offended? Compare this to a recent decision in the US "Court Upholds Searches Of Muslim Groups in Va."
I'll do the occasional Dhimmi update on the UK from time to time. The UK may win the Dhimmi of the decade award. Future winners to perhaps include Australia and all other Western nations.
The UK recently changed one of their awards that used a cross to a circle so as "not to offend Muslims and Hindus." I have never met a Hindu that was concerned about the cross as a symbol so I assume that the word "Hindu" was added so as not to seem to Dhimmi.
Their treatment of who gets on or doesn't is also rather strange. Neo-Nazis and extremist Muslims are OK but those wanting to talk about Islam or general Right leaning views are banned. Freedom of Speech in the UK means anything but.
It is getting that way in Australia in places like Victoria where extremist Muslims can spout any amount of hate speech but question what they are saying and you are dragging in front of a Commission.
A Dentist in the UK refuses to treat women unless they wear Islamic dress. He has turned away people in genuine pain because they didn't.
According to the Daily Mail Scotland Yard officers have been stripped of stop and search terror powers over fears of angering Muslims. You might want to read that one again. The group currently responsible for 99.99% of all the world's terror attacks will no longer be checked in case they get offended? Compare this to a recent decision in the US "Court Upholds Searches Of Muslim Groups in Va."
I'll do the occasional Dhimmi update on the UK from time to time. The UK may win the Dhimmi of the decade award. Future winners to perhaps include Australia and all other Western nations.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Education - It Needs Work
I was chatting with my 6 year old niece recently who just got one of those new Nintendo DS units. She was playing with the arithmetic 'game' and seemed to be struggling with 2 + 2. I reasonably confident that I could do that level of math when I was her age and she is in a good private school.
It may mean nothing but it did bring home the problems that exist within the Australian education system these days. Not necessarily with my niece but in general. School level students are being asked to write assignments on what they imagine 2020 will be like after the effects of climate change. When I first heard this I assumed this was an English fantasy question but apparently it is not.
It scares me that the next generation is being raised on the basis of non scientific treatment of science, lacking basic grammar skills, not being able to read in some cases but well versed on the 'feel good' subjects like sensitivity. When this is all over the Left (socialists) will have a lot to answer for.
It may mean nothing but it did bring home the problems that exist within the Australian education system these days. Not necessarily with my niece but in general. School level students are being asked to write assignments on what they imagine 2020 will be like after the effects of climate change. When I first heard this I assumed this was an English fantasy question but apparently it is not.
It scares me that the next generation is being raised on the basis of non scientific treatment of science, lacking basic grammar skills, not being able to read in some cases but well versed on the 'feel good' subjects like sensitivity. When this is all over the Left (socialists) will have a lot to answer for.
Top 20 Funniest People
One of Australia's TV stations has a regular Top 2o segment. They count down the list from 20 to 1.
One episode I saw, and about the only one I did, was a countdown of the top funniest people. As one does I made a quick list of the funniest people I could think of.
Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Steve Martin, Kenny Everett, The Goodies, John Cleese, Robin Williams, Rowan Atkinson, Chris Rock, Billy Connelly, Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore, Tim Brook Taylor, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall.
The show had four of these plus a number of barely funny Australians. Why is it that Australian shows have to include Australians as being the best of everything. the Dame Edna character was rated as second on the list!
They missed Peter Sellers the original Pink Panther, how could you leave people like him, Steve Martin off the list? I guess the selectors must be the least funny people on the planet?
One episode I saw, and about the only one I did, was a countdown of the top funniest people. As one does I made a quick list of the funniest people I could think of.
Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Steve Martin, Kenny Everett, The Goodies, John Cleese, Robin Williams, Rowan Atkinson, Chris Rock, Billy Connelly, Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore, Tim Brook Taylor, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall.
The show had four of these plus a number of barely funny Australians. Why is it that Australian shows have to include Australians as being the best of everything. the Dame Edna character was rated as second on the list!
They missed Peter Sellers the original Pink Panther, how could you leave people like him, Steve Martin off the list? I guess the selectors must be the least funny people on the planet?
Economists versus People
In my rather weighty book on Economics it says that "costs matter" and "an individual (or a firm, or a society) should take action if, and only if, the extra benefits from taking the actions are at least as great as the extra costs. (Franke, Bernake - Principles of Economics 2007). As an aside the Keynesian Model comes in at chapter 26 and what it says there seems to be vastly different that what we hear on TV (I tend to believe the book)
Economists then are about maximising benefits, minimising costs and risks, and working for the benefit of the organisation they are working for or with. I am generalising a bit here but you should get the general idea.
This means that they would recommend class sizes of 200 over 20 in say schools and in general policies that focus on the money not on people. So when an economists says that something is good examine it in light of these basic principles. Economists want the population of Australia to grow rapidly because growth represents more building, more things being purchased and consumed. This increases demand which increases supply which makes more money for suppliers.
Economists do not look at shortages of potable water, the plight of the spotted owl or the amount of pollution in the air except where it affects the bottom lines. I may be that they are so wrapped up in their formulas that they forget about the people. It is nicer to believe this than the other option which is that they simply do not care.
If you are not a producer, or supplier, or organisation that produces services then when an economist speaks they are probably not speaking for you. Remember this next time you hear the word used in a news story.
Economists then are about maximising benefits, minimising costs and risks, and working for the benefit of the organisation they are working for or with. I am generalising a bit here but you should get the general idea.
This means that they would recommend class sizes of 200 over 20 in say schools and in general policies that focus on the money not on people. So when an economists says that something is good examine it in light of these basic principles. Economists want the population of Australia to grow rapidly because growth represents more building, more things being purchased and consumed. This increases demand which increases supply which makes more money for suppliers.
Economists do not look at shortages of potable water, the plight of the spotted owl or the amount of pollution in the air except where it affects the bottom lines. I may be that they are so wrapped up in their formulas that they forget about the people. It is nicer to believe this than the other option which is that they simply do not care.
If you are not a producer, or supplier, or organisation that produces services then when an economist speaks they are probably not speaking for you. Remember this next time you hear the word used in a news story.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
AGWS - Sea Levels are Rising
This is the first in what will probably be many of a series on anthropogenic global warming science.
One way to divide AGWists is into the two areas of modeling and observable data. Computer modeling is based on the idea that you can computer model climate and from this predict what is going to happen in the future. All the computer models predict temperature increases from 1990 onwards in response to CO2 increases (Dr Roy Spencer - May 2) This in direct contradiction to the observed data (e.g. UAH satellite data) Computer modelers in general deal with this by asserting that the observed data must be wrong and it should be ignored (Dr Timothy Patterson).
Back to sea levels. The foremost expert on sea levels is without question is Dr. Nils-Axel Mörner formerly chairman of the INQUA International Commission on Sea Level Chang, He has spent the last 35 years using any method he could to measure sea levels. His conclusions are that "the sea is not rising," he says. "It hasn't risen in 50 years." If there is any rise this century it will "not be more than 10cm (four inches), with an uncertainty of plus or minus 10cm". (Christopher Booker - Interview).
In the latest report the IPCC has used the figure 2.3 mm per year rise in levels (still well under Al Gore's predictions) though until 1992 their own data showed no rise. First of all as an IPCC expert reviewer Dr Mörner was "astonished to find that not one of their 22 contributing authors on sea levels was a sea level specialist: not one". Worse the IPCC graph tilted upwards because the IPCC's favoured experts had drawn on the finding of a single tide-gauge in Hong Kong harbour showing a 2.3mm rise. The entire global sea-level projection was then adjusted upwards by a "corrective factor" of 2.3mm, because, as the IPCC scientists admitted, they "needed to show a trend"(ibid).
Also as a note. Until recently a "scientist" was not necessarily a person with a degree or formal qualification but an individual who dared to carry out their own research and investigation on a subject or area of interest. It has only been in more modern times that this has been formalized to include a piece of paper earned at an educational institution.
End of the science for today.
One way to divide AGWists is into the two areas of modeling and observable data. Computer modeling is based on the idea that you can computer model climate and from this predict what is going to happen in the future. All the computer models predict temperature increases from 1990 onwards in response to CO2 increases (Dr Roy Spencer - May 2) This in direct contradiction to the observed data (e.g. UAH satellite data) Computer modelers in general deal with this by asserting that the observed data must be wrong and it should be ignored (Dr Timothy Patterson).
Back to sea levels. The foremost expert on sea levels is without question is Dr. Nils-Axel Mörner formerly chairman of the INQUA International Commission on Sea Level Chang, He has spent the last 35 years using any method he could to measure sea levels. His conclusions are that "the sea is not rising," he says. "It hasn't risen in 50 years." If there is any rise this century it will "not be more than 10cm (four inches), with an uncertainty of plus or minus 10cm". (Christopher Booker - Interview).
In the latest report the IPCC has used the figure 2.3 mm per year rise in levels (still well under Al Gore's predictions) though until 1992 their own data showed no rise. First of all as an IPCC expert reviewer Dr Mörner was "astonished to find that not one of their 22 contributing authors on sea levels was a sea level specialist: not one". Worse the IPCC graph tilted upwards because the IPCC's favoured experts had drawn on the finding of a single tide-gauge in Hong Kong harbour showing a 2.3mm rise. The entire global sea-level projection was then adjusted upwards by a "corrective factor" of 2.3mm, because, as the IPCC scientists admitted, they "needed to show a trend"(ibid).
Also as a note. Until recently a "scientist" was not necessarily a person with a degree or formal qualification but an individual who dared to carry out their own research and investigation on a subject or area of interest. It has only been in more modern times that this has been formalized to include a piece of paper earned at an educational institution.
End of the science for today.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
AGW - Who To Blame and Who Will be Vilified
As the cracks start to appear in the whole anthropogenic global warming (a.k.a. climate change) 'debate' there are a number of groups that will suffer, and rightly so, once the whole scam has been exposed for what it is.
At the top of the list is science. The days when people believed that the Earth was the center of the universe was rightly called the Dark Ages. Some time in the future, this period will be know as the Dark Ages of our era. Scientific method was thrown out the window to accommodate the 'consensus' and scientists still sell themselves for grant money.
Second on the list are the Universities that allow this kind of behaviour to exist in what are supposed to be places of learning. They have allowed or become dominated by the left, socialist thinking professors and as a result science has been replaced by opinion and at best what can be called sloppy research all for the dollar.
Next are the complicit media outlets and the reporters that support them. A reporter is supposed to dig into a story to find the facts. Instead they allow themselves to be spoon fed by whatever special interest groups is grinding their axe that day or do what the editors tell them to do.
Driving all of these groups are the politicians who recognise how to get votes and activelty support whetever group will get them reelected next time. It has nothing to do with what is best for their country or the group they represent as a whole, just how to get in next time.
There needs to be an accounting. The government, the universities, the media and the complicit scientists will need to be reminded time and time again how they failed the people and their students.
Watch all of these groups as they try to spin their way out of their respective contributions.
At the top of the list is science. The days when people believed that the Earth was the center of the universe was rightly called the Dark Ages. Some time in the future, this period will be know as the Dark Ages of our era. Scientific method was thrown out the window to accommodate the 'consensus' and scientists still sell themselves for grant money.
Second on the list are the Universities that allow this kind of behaviour to exist in what are supposed to be places of learning. They have allowed or become dominated by the left, socialist thinking professors and as a result science has been replaced by opinion and at best what can be called sloppy research all for the dollar.
Next are the complicit media outlets and the reporters that support them. A reporter is supposed to dig into a story to find the facts. Instead they allow themselves to be spoon fed by whatever special interest groups is grinding their axe that day or do what the editors tell them to do.
Driving all of these groups are the politicians who recognise how to get votes and activelty support whetever group will get them reelected next time. It has nothing to do with what is best for their country or the group they represent as a whole, just how to get in next time.
There needs to be an accounting. The government, the universities, the media and the complicit scientists will need to be reminded time and time again how they failed the people and their students.
Watch all of these groups as they try to spin their way out of their respective contributions.
Wither Now Labor?
Kevin Rudd and his party are starting to show cracks, some small and some quite large.
As predicted Swan has finally admitted that it will take until 2014-15 to get out of debt. What does this mean? It means that if Labor stopped all spending today Australia would be out of debt by 2015. What it really means is that once all the proposed spending has taken place, and any more before the next election that Australia is probably going to get our of debt around 2030.
Since things are starting to rapidly go downhill expect an election in November (also predicted in an earlier blog). If Rudd waits too long the public will already be hurting which may wake enough of them up, particularly the last swing voters, to kick him out.
Australia, the UK and America are currently being lead by charismatic, left (socialist) leaders and governments. Every one of them is leading their respective countries into massive debt, are curtailing basic freedoms like those of speech and are selling their countries out to foreigners.
Ironically the recent backing away from the ETS will not affect the Green's support for Labor, they are essentially a Labor party block with a narrow agenda.
To a certain extent the global economic downturn has been blamed on capitalism but the real culprit is poor regulatory control where it used to be but was taken away (in the past 15 years). This will hurt the Liberal coalition to some extent but at least they are a party that works to remove debt. The worst place to be in a recession is in debt and Labor is working as hard as it can to put Australian into as much debt as they can in the shortest period of time.
If their is an election i November it will be interesting to see how many change their votes. The Labor followers generally always follow the party lines, no matter how often they change or move. It will come down to the same ones to kicked Liberal out to put them back.
If Labor gets in again then push that recovery date out another decade or two and increase the amount of debt proportionately. Ironically it's the current Labor policies that are hurting employment and by extension the Unions.
As predicted Swan has finally admitted that it will take until 2014-15 to get out of debt. What does this mean? It means that if Labor stopped all spending today Australia would be out of debt by 2015. What it really means is that once all the proposed spending has taken place, and any more before the next election that Australia is probably going to get our of debt around 2030.
Since things are starting to rapidly go downhill expect an election in November (also predicted in an earlier blog). If Rudd waits too long the public will already be hurting which may wake enough of them up, particularly the last swing voters, to kick him out.
Australia, the UK and America are currently being lead by charismatic, left (socialist) leaders and governments. Every one of them is leading their respective countries into massive debt, are curtailing basic freedoms like those of speech and are selling their countries out to foreigners.
Ironically the recent backing away from the ETS will not affect the Green's support for Labor, they are essentially a Labor party block with a narrow agenda.
To a certain extent the global economic downturn has been blamed on capitalism but the real culprit is poor regulatory control where it used to be but was taken away (in the past 15 years). This will hurt the Liberal coalition to some extent but at least they are a party that works to remove debt. The worst place to be in a recession is in debt and Labor is working as hard as it can to put Australian into as much debt as they can in the shortest period of time.
If their is an election i November it will be interesting to see how many change their votes. The Labor followers generally always follow the party lines, no matter how often they change or move. It will come down to the same ones to kicked Liberal out to put them back.
If Labor gets in again then push that recovery date out another decade or two and increase the amount of debt proportionately. Ironically it's the current Labor policies that are hurting employment and by extension the Unions.
The Law is an Ass
The phrase "The law is an ass" originates in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, when the character Mr. Bumble is informed that "the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction".
In Australian the phrase refers to most decisions made by the legal system. Drunk drivers who kill people get off without a custodial sentence. There is a very popular sentence in Australia the "Suspended Sentence" this means no jail time. If you misbehave during that time there is a theoretical penalty but they rarely get invoked. Basically the sentence is a joke.
Instead let's make it all a lot easier. Get rid of the suspended sentence altogether and while they are at it revoke the laws that people break to get one. Stop using terms like "maximum sentence" no one ever gets one.
The role of a lawyer has devolved into that of a person who takes away justice, or fights against justice. The role of a judge has been subverted by special interest groups and governments who don't want to put any effort into dealing with the problem. They ensure that offenders get minimum sentences and as soon as one doesn't they are vilified.
In Australian the phrase refers to most decisions made by the legal system. Drunk drivers who kill people get off without a custodial sentence. There is a very popular sentence in Australia the "Suspended Sentence" this means no jail time. If you misbehave during that time there is a theoretical penalty but they rarely get invoked. Basically the sentence is a joke.
Instead let's make it all a lot easier. Get rid of the suspended sentence altogether and while they are at it revoke the laws that people break to get one. Stop using terms like "maximum sentence" no one ever gets one.
The role of a lawyer has devolved into that of a person who takes away justice, or fights against justice. The role of a judge has been subverted by special interest groups and governments who don't want to put any effort into dealing with the problem. They ensure that offenders get minimum sentences and as soon as one doesn't they are vilified.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Energy Efficient Globes - Who Do they Save?
Australia and a few other places in the world have mandated a shift to energy efficient light globes. These are a fluorescent based unit that work by heating up mercury vapor to give a white light. They are more energy efficient than the tungsten incandescent globes in common use up until now.
That is the plus side and the only part that the CO2 bigots are interested in.
The government has a scheme where a company will come into your home and replace all the incandescent lights for free. My parents recently had this done. The globes will not work for a dimmer switch so that means the old bulbs will need to stick around for a while yet.
When a new globe breaks it releases mercury vapor. Measurements by the relevant authorities in the US find the levels to be 100 times that of normal even some time later. They globes are made in China where workers are exposed to and die from mercury poisoning on a regular basis. Factories were shut down because of this but because of the new demand from Carbon crazy Westerners they have been re-opened to meet the demand. Apparently the globes have been known to leak, I'm guessing due to the high manufacturing standards found in China at the moment.
Disposal recommendations include vacating the room to air for a minimum of 20 minutes. Keeping pregnant women out for the room until it has been well aired. The item itself must be collected and packed into a sealed container and taken to a disposal area for handling.
The disposal and dangers are not common knowledge. Most people just wrap it up and dump it in the trash. No information is given by the people who go around to houses and put them in for free.
So we have a special interest group pushing for a technology to avert a fake problem (CO2). They are not interested or concerned that people are dying to provide the technology. They are not concerned enough to tell people how dangerous the globes are if broken or the disposal issues. About the only good thing the globes do is use less power.
That is the plus side and the only part that the CO2 bigots are interested in.
The government has a scheme where a company will come into your home and replace all the incandescent lights for free. My parents recently had this done. The globes will not work for a dimmer switch so that means the old bulbs will need to stick around for a while yet.
When a new globe breaks it releases mercury vapor. Measurements by the relevant authorities in the US find the levels to be 100 times that of normal even some time later. They globes are made in China where workers are exposed to and die from mercury poisoning on a regular basis. Factories were shut down because of this but because of the new demand from Carbon crazy Westerners they have been re-opened to meet the demand. Apparently the globes have been known to leak, I'm guessing due to the high manufacturing standards found in China at the moment.
Disposal recommendations include vacating the room to air for a minimum of 20 minutes. Keeping pregnant women out for the room until it has been well aired. The item itself must be collected and packed into a sealed container and taken to a disposal area for handling.
The disposal and dangers are not common knowledge. Most people just wrap it up and dump it in the trash. No information is given by the people who go around to houses and put them in for free.
So we have a special interest group pushing for a technology to avert a fake problem (CO2). They are not interested or concerned that people are dying to provide the technology. They are not concerned enough to tell people how dangerous the globes are if broken or the disposal issues. About the only good thing the globes do is use less power.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Defense Funding - Nothing for the Troops
Australia has a very poor history of supplying its troops, the ones who do the real fighting, with decent weapons and equipment.
From the days of the Piat anti-tank round up until today the Australian troops are the poor cousins to groups like the Germans, Israelis and US soldiers.
Consider Afghanistan. The troops there have little or no air support, no unmanned vehicles spotting their path and the result has been deaths by ambush time and time again. They have a field rifle that is hardly used by any other nation. Web sites that used to review Aussie equipment were harassed until they shut down.
The next big budget, that has no funding details, is once again focused on big ticket items like planes and ships. I am all for an increase in the spotting area though, too many crafts of all types get close to or reach Australia without them being spotted or spotted too late.
Of course the biggest problem with the Australian Defense Forces is that they are managed by public servants. People who have never been to a boot camp, never fired a weapon and never even been camping are the ones deciding what the troops get and how much of it. It is a sad time to be soldier in this man's army.
From the days of the Piat anti-tank round up until today the Australian troops are the poor cousins to groups like the Germans, Israelis and US soldiers.
Consider Afghanistan. The troops there have little or no air support, no unmanned vehicles spotting their path and the result has been deaths by ambush time and time again. They have a field rifle that is hardly used by any other nation. Web sites that used to review Aussie equipment were harassed until they shut down.
The next big budget, that has no funding details, is once again focused on big ticket items like planes and ships. I am all for an increase in the spotting area though, too many crafts of all types get close to or reach Australia without them being spotted or spotted too late.
Of course the biggest problem with the Australian Defense Forces is that they are managed by public servants. People who have never been to a boot camp, never fired a weapon and never even been camping are the ones deciding what the troops get and how much of it. It is a sad time to be soldier in this man's army.
Safe Haven - Certainly Not Heaven
I can see both side of the argument that bombing the Sri Lanken designated safe haven is both outrageous and 'necessary.' An attack in a safe haven is certainly not unusual for the given their history in places like the former Yugoslavia and Darfur.
What then is a "safe haven?" Any reasonable observer would categorize one as a place that is safe for civilians. Hamas uses safe havens for fire bases, what should the response be in this case? The Tamil Tigers used the safe havens, according to the Sri Lanken government, as places of safety to hide and launch attacks.
The Sri Lanken government has denied that they have shelled such a location despite the photographic evidence. They bombed the safe haven to attack the hiding Tamil Tigers. Those being 'safed' were also bombed in the process.
The bad guys will always take advantage of these kinds of places. They do not follow the same principles that are typically engendered in Western nations. Treaties like the Geneva Convention are not followed, torture is OK, using civilians as human shields is OK blowing up women and children is OK.
So what is the solution? You either try to protect the civilians or you don't. The Sri Lanken government seems to have made a bet both ways and then denied one half. This does not make it right but then again how do you weed out the good ones from the bad ones in such a situation?
What then is a "safe haven?" Any reasonable observer would categorize one as a place that is safe for civilians. Hamas uses safe havens for fire bases, what should the response be in this case? The Tamil Tigers used the safe havens, according to the Sri Lanken government, as places of safety to hide and launch attacks.
The Sri Lanken government has denied that they have shelled such a location despite the photographic evidence. They bombed the safe haven to attack the hiding Tamil Tigers. Those being 'safed' were also bombed in the process.
The bad guys will always take advantage of these kinds of places. They do not follow the same principles that are typically engendered in Western nations. Treaties like the Geneva Convention are not followed, torture is OK, using civilians as human shields is OK blowing up women and children is OK.
So what is the solution? You either try to protect the civilians or you don't. The Sri Lanken government seems to have made a bet both ways and then denied one half. This does not make it right but then again how do you weed out the good ones from the bad ones in such a situation?
Friday, May 1, 2009
Swine Flu - Yes Pigs Did Fly - Updated
This could turn out to be the worst disaster of the year. By worst I mean a not a disaster at all. There have been only a very few confirmed deaths compared to say the global death toll due to regular influenza.
Egypt and at least one other Muslim dominated country have decided to cull all pigs in their countries because of the Swine Flu (real reason: to annoy the Christians living there). Many other countries e.g. China, have stopped importing pork for exactly the same reason.
I suggest we call the next flu the Carbon Flu which will help all those environmentalists with their CO2 problems.
If the media stopped reporting it this flu would vanish into obscurity where it belongs. So far more people died installing solar panels that from the swine flu, perhaps we should ban those as well.
-- UPDATE --
The more info that comes in on this thing the less it appears to be anything other than a regular flu virus. Short term effects, no dramatic spreading, confirmed deaths in the single digits, not double digits as being reported.
Other than a media driven fear campaign, backed by equally distracted governments eager to find something else to talk about besides their economic mishandling of the global financial crisis, there is nothing to this thing as yet.
Pigs cannot be infected so that kills the "we need to kill all pigs" rant. All that is left is to thank the media for their ramping up the tension and move on to the next crisis.
Egypt and at least one other Muslim dominated country have decided to cull all pigs in their countries because of the Swine Flu (real reason: to annoy the Christians living there). Many other countries e.g. China, have stopped importing pork for exactly the same reason.
I suggest we call the next flu the Carbon Flu which will help all those environmentalists with their CO2 problems.
If the media stopped reporting it this flu would vanish into obscurity where it belongs. So far more people died installing solar panels that from the swine flu, perhaps we should ban those as well.
-- UPDATE --
The more info that comes in on this thing the less it appears to be anything other than a regular flu virus. Short term effects, no dramatic spreading, confirmed deaths in the single digits, not double digits as being reported.
Other than a media driven fear campaign, backed by equally distracted governments eager to find something else to talk about besides their economic mishandling of the global financial crisis, there is nothing to this thing as yet.
Pigs cannot be infected so that kills the "we need to kill all pigs" rant. All that is left is to thank the media for their ramping up the tension and move on to the next crisis.
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