It sounds almost unbelievable ! A young man who mastered the capabilities of the Internet and it's commercial applications managed to create what the FBI describes as " the most extensive criminal markeplace on the Internet ".
It is alleged that twenty-nine year old Ross William Ulbricht setup " Silk Road " in January 2011 - and that since then it has openly supplied the entire spectrum of illicit drugs - openly and in full view of the world's law enforcement agencies.
All buyers needed to do was peruse the offerings and prices posted on a " black " Internet site - and make their selection. In a matter of days, the delivery took place through the mail system - and this enterprise had a turnover in excess of a billion dollars.
The usual problem with illicit trade revolves around paying for the goods. Payment methods leave " money trails " but there is a fast evolving form of commerce termed " bitcoins " - which few people really understand. It is a new form of " Cyber money " that is traded between individuals and because it has no need for banks or financial clearing houses - it remains " invisible " to law enforcement.
What the Silk Road story really illustrates is that an entrepeneur with an enquiring mind and a good grasp of the power of the computer and it's Internet application can grasp opportunities that are only limited by the power of the human mind to think !
Ulbricht is under arrest and has been charged with narcotics trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering. It is one thing for the FBI to lay charges - and quite another to gain a conviction.
No doubt this case will play out in the courts of the USA in coming months - and perhaps years. What is has opened up is a new and safe way to deal drugs - and you can be certain that others are carefully studying the Silk Road script - with the intention of copying and improving on that method.
It all boils down to the first rule of commerce. " Wherever there is a need, someone will devise a supply " !
Monday, 7 October 2013
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Bikie wars !
Keeping Australia safe is a split responsibility between the men and women in uniform in the defence forces and the state police whose job it is to maintain civil order. Events now playing out on the Gold Coast are casting doubt on our ability to keep control of the growing muscle of outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The " Red and white army " of the Hells Angels has long controlled the drug scene in Australia's tourist playground, but that is now under threat from the Mongols, the biggest, most violent and dangerous criminal grouping in the USA.
The Mongols are coming to Australia and already they have incorporated the " Finks " to wear their colours and are busily recruiting members from other rival motorcycle clubs. This is very much a game where numbers count, and the Hells Angels are desperately seeking to expand and are vigorously adding to their chapter.
In the past decade, the degree of violence from the bikie legions has increased sharply. The bikie clubs are becoming more organized and money to create expansion is no problem - because of the huge profits from the drug trade that they control. Sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment of a standard used by military forces is at their disposal.
We are fast reaching the stage when criminal forces have lost their fear of our police and have the muscle to take them on in open combat. They swagger through shopping centres in an aggressive style - and in numbers that are confronting. It seems that this situation will worsen if the fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels becomes open warfare.
There are warnings to be learned on the world scene. In Mexico, the drug gangs are now so powerful that they have the upper hand over both the police and the Mexican armed forces. A similar situation exists in parts of the Philippines.
We need to fight this menace - before it gets completely out of control, and that requires courageous law changes to enable the police to do their job - and support from our armed forces if more fire power is needed.
The writing is clearly on the wall. Our response will determine if the battle is joined now - or allowed to fester until it becomes a giant future war !
The " Red and white army " of the Hells Angels has long controlled the drug scene in Australia's tourist playground, but that is now under threat from the Mongols, the biggest, most violent and dangerous criminal grouping in the USA.
The Mongols are coming to Australia and already they have incorporated the " Finks " to wear their colours and are busily recruiting members from other rival motorcycle clubs. This is very much a game where numbers count, and the Hells Angels are desperately seeking to expand and are vigorously adding to their chapter.
In the past decade, the degree of violence from the bikie legions has increased sharply. The bikie clubs are becoming more organized and money to create expansion is no problem - because of the huge profits from the drug trade that they control. Sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment of a standard used by military forces is at their disposal.
We are fast reaching the stage when criminal forces have lost their fear of our police and have the muscle to take them on in open combat. They swagger through shopping centres in an aggressive style - and in numbers that are confronting. It seems that this situation will worsen if the fight between the Mongols and Hells Angels becomes open warfare.
There are warnings to be learned on the world scene. In Mexico, the drug gangs are now so powerful that they have the upper hand over both the police and the Mexican armed forces. A similar situation exists in parts of the Philippines.
We need to fight this menace - before it gets completely out of control, and that requires courageous law changes to enable the police to do their job - and support from our armed forces if more fire power is needed.
The writing is clearly on the wall. Our response will determine if the battle is joined now - or allowed to fester until it becomes a giant future war !
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Angry People !
The citizens of the United States of America have every right to be angry. They sent their representatives to Washington to run the country, not indulge in " party politics " that has closed down the economy and sent eight hundred thousand employees on indefinite furlough !
The damage this is doing is like ever widening ripples on a pond. Those eight hundred thousand people sent home without pay closed an amazing number of places that people choose to visit - and that includes the Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Yosemite, all the museums, historical battle fields and monuments like Mount Rushmore that take pride of place in holiday snap shots.
What about the millions of Americans who make their living servicing the visitors to these places ? The people who flip hamburgers to feed the holiday crowds and the hotels and motels who provide visitor accommodation - and the car hire people who provide transport for the fly-in crowd ?
A lot of the American work force are hired on a " casual " basis. When the work is available, they get a " call in " - and they earn their money. How many people have cancelled a holiday trip to the USA because the place has shut down - and how many domestic workers won't get that call to come and clean floors and make beds. How many people live from paycheck to paycheck - and this shutdown will see their world crumble ?
The sad thing is that this " furlough " will be very selective. The titans of Wall street will still be sitting in their plush offices and collecting their pay. The men and women that the nation elected to sit in the house and the Senate will not loose any money while they haggle over issues of pure political doctrine.
Of course it would be pure fantasy - but just imagine if the country was starting again from scratch and the people writing the constitution decided to insert an " all in - all out " clause.
"What if " - when the economy shuts down - nobody across the entire country gets a pay check - until the mess is sorted out ?
And that includes the politicians !
But of course - if that rule applied, this mess would not have been allowed to happen in the first place !
The damage this is doing is like ever widening ripples on a pond. Those eight hundred thousand people sent home without pay closed an amazing number of places that people choose to visit - and that includes the Grand Canyon, The Statue of Liberty, Yosemite, all the museums, historical battle fields and monuments like Mount Rushmore that take pride of place in holiday snap shots.
What about the millions of Americans who make their living servicing the visitors to these places ? The people who flip hamburgers to feed the holiday crowds and the hotels and motels who provide visitor accommodation - and the car hire people who provide transport for the fly-in crowd ?
A lot of the American work force are hired on a " casual " basis. When the work is available, they get a " call in " - and they earn their money. How many people have cancelled a holiday trip to the USA because the place has shut down - and how many domestic workers won't get that call to come and clean floors and make beds. How many people live from paycheck to paycheck - and this shutdown will see their world crumble ?
The sad thing is that this " furlough " will be very selective. The titans of Wall street will still be sitting in their plush offices and collecting their pay. The men and women that the nation elected to sit in the house and the Senate will not loose any money while they haggle over issues of pure political doctrine.
Of course it would be pure fantasy - but just imagine if the country was starting again from scratch and the people writing the constitution decided to insert an " all in - all out " clause.
"What if " - when the economy shuts down - nobody across the entire country gets a pay check - until the mess is sorted out ?
And that includes the politicians !
But of course - if that rule applied, this mess would not have been allowed to happen in the first place !
Friday, 4 October 2013
A sensible precaution !
This week saw a Sydney road accident that filled most people with horror. A huge petrol tanker crashed on Mona Vale road and burst into flames. Two men were incinerated in their cars, several others received life threatening burns and brave bystander action saved several lives.
The fact that just prior to the crash, the tanker driver was flashing his lights and sounding his air horn leaves a strong impression that this crash was caused by a mechanical fault, probably brake failure. The very thought of a tanker containing hundreds of thousands of litres of petrol running out of control is enough to give other drivers a nightmare !
This tanker belonged to one of the leading fuel distribution companies in Australia and they run a fleet of two hundred such vehicles. The police and the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) immediately ordered this company's other tankers running on New South Wales roads to report to vehicle checking stations for a safety inspection. Many vehicles were found to have faults - and five were ordered off the road because of the nature of the needed repairs.
This should become standard procedure whenever a heavy vehicle crash appears to have possibly been caused by some sort of mechanical failure. All other vehicles owned by that company are on the state vehicle register and heavy vehicles are required to travel through the checking stations dotted about the state highway system. A general alert of the registrations required to be checked would produce immediate results.
All road vehicles require an annual safety check prior to registration but hard financial times sometimes result in day by day repairs being delayed. It is a fact of life that there are defective vehicles on our roads and one of the main reasons for these heavy vehicle checking stations - is to keep that risk under control.
Knowing that if a vehicle crashes this will cause the entire fleet to be safety checked would be a huge incentive for fleet owners to pay close attention to required running repairs. A good fleet safety reputation has a big influence on insurance premiums and is usually a factor when competing firms are being considered for a contract.
The action taken by police and RMS after this tragic accident is a sensible precaution. It should become standard procedure whenever a road event is suspected to involver mechanical failure !
The fact that just prior to the crash, the tanker driver was flashing his lights and sounding his air horn leaves a strong impression that this crash was caused by a mechanical fault, probably brake failure. The very thought of a tanker containing hundreds of thousands of litres of petrol running out of control is enough to give other drivers a nightmare !
This tanker belonged to one of the leading fuel distribution companies in Australia and they run a fleet of two hundred such vehicles. The police and the Roads and Maritime services ( RMS ) immediately ordered this company's other tankers running on New South Wales roads to report to vehicle checking stations for a safety inspection. Many vehicles were found to have faults - and five were ordered off the road because of the nature of the needed repairs.
This should become standard procedure whenever a heavy vehicle crash appears to have possibly been caused by some sort of mechanical failure. All other vehicles owned by that company are on the state vehicle register and heavy vehicles are required to travel through the checking stations dotted about the state highway system. A general alert of the registrations required to be checked would produce immediate results.
All road vehicles require an annual safety check prior to registration but hard financial times sometimes result in day by day repairs being delayed. It is a fact of life that there are defective vehicles on our roads and one of the main reasons for these heavy vehicle checking stations - is to keep that risk under control.
Knowing that if a vehicle crashes this will cause the entire fleet to be safety checked would be a huge incentive for fleet owners to pay close attention to required running repairs. A good fleet safety reputation has a big influence on insurance premiums and is usually a factor when competing firms are being considered for a contract.
The action taken by police and RMS after this tragic accident is a sensible precaution. It should become standard procedure whenever a road event is suspected to involver mechanical failure !
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Politics !
Politics is always about dissent ! Politics is a divide on the way the nation should go but within the calming influence of - compromise ! That important ingredient seems to have been lost in the world's biggest economy.
The sticking point seems to be " Obamacare ". This is a project designed to bring more Americans under the security of health insurance, but some in the " Tea Party " wing of the Republican party see it as "Socialism " and block a critical money bill unless it is neutered.
As a result, the American government has furloughed 800,000 employees. They have been told to stay home on indefinite leave of absence - without pay. NASA will shut down except for a skeleton staff to service the needs of the orbiting space station, all of America's prime tourist attractions, parks, museums - and even the Statue of Liberty - will close - and the country will gradually grind to a halt.
Unless this financial crisis can be resolved, a bigger disaster is looming large. America's debt ceiling is another money bill that may be refused - and if that happens the world's biggest economy will default on it's debts.
That would be the unthinkable ! It would certainly engender world financial chaos - and probable undetermined risks. It could trigger a world recession that would make the 08 crash look like a Sunday school picnic.
Such is the way the human mind behaves when politicians retreat behind the stockade of " political principles ". Both sides have dug in their heels and nobody seems prepared to trade the " give and take " that is the basis of " compromise " !
Somehow an explanation that was once used to try and explain the folly of the Vietnam war comes to mind.
" In order to save the village, it became necessary to destroy the village ".
That seems applicable in the present circumstances !
The sticking point seems to be " Obamacare ". This is a project designed to bring more Americans under the security of health insurance, but some in the " Tea Party " wing of the Republican party see it as "Socialism " and block a critical money bill unless it is neutered.
As a result, the American government has furloughed 800,000 employees. They have been told to stay home on indefinite leave of absence - without pay. NASA will shut down except for a skeleton staff to service the needs of the orbiting space station, all of America's prime tourist attractions, parks, museums - and even the Statue of Liberty - will close - and the country will gradually grind to a halt.
Unless this financial crisis can be resolved, a bigger disaster is looming large. America's debt ceiling is another money bill that may be refused - and if that happens the world's biggest economy will default on it's debts.
That would be the unthinkable ! It would certainly engender world financial chaos - and probable undetermined risks. It could trigger a world recession that would make the 08 crash look like a Sunday school picnic.
Such is the way the human mind behaves when politicians retreat behind the stockade of " political principles ". Both sides have dug in their heels and nobody seems prepared to trade the " give and take " that is the basis of " compromise " !
Somehow an explanation that was once used to try and explain the folly of the Vietnam war comes to mind.
" In order to save the village, it became necessary to destroy the village ".
That seems applicable in the present circumstances !
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
The " Shopping Trolley " menace !
They are everywhere ! Littering parks or standing abandoned in suburban streets. Every " Cleanup Australia " day dozens of shopping trolleys emblazoned with the logo of their supermarket of origin are pulled out of creeks or dragged out of bushland.
The sad thing is that this scourge came as part of the grocery revolution. The grocery stores pre the introduction of supermarkets packed and delivered their customers orders. When the " self serve " ethic arrived, trolleys were necessary to allow customers to drag their selection to the checkout - and from there to wherever their car was parked. There were no restrictions on what happened when that trolley left the store.
Each shopping trolley represents an investment of many hundreds of dollars for the issueing supermarket - and you can be sure that the loss incurred when trolleys are not returned is factored into the price of those items you buy.
Councils have imposed fines on uncollected shopping trolleys and now there are moves to have them crushed as a financial punishment. All that is required to banish this problem - is a simple law change !
Have you noticed that of all the branded shopping trolleys laying abandoned in city streets, those with the Aldi logo are not to be seen ?
The difference is that Aldi customers are required to insert a two dollar coin into the security slot to have the use of an Aldi trolley - and they get that coin back when they return the trolley.
We humans are very predictable. If something is free - we abuse that priviledge. Put a small charge on that same service, and our way of thinking and acting - changes entirely !
If we want to free our streets and parks of abandoned shopping trolleys we need a law change to make all stores that provide shopping trolleys introduce this " coin hire " inducement.
Curbing the loss from trolley replacement may even deliver a small price reduction in the weekly grocery bill !
The sad thing is that this scourge came as part of the grocery revolution. The grocery stores pre the introduction of supermarkets packed and delivered their customers orders. When the " self serve " ethic arrived, trolleys were necessary to allow customers to drag their selection to the checkout - and from there to wherever their car was parked. There were no restrictions on what happened when that trolley left the store.
Each shopping trolley represents an investment of many hundreds of dollars for the issueing supermarket - and you can be sure that the loss incurred when trolleys are not returned is factored into the price of those items you buy.
Councils have imposed fines on uncollected shopping trolleys and now there are moves to have them crushed as a financial punishment. All that is required to banish this problem - is a simple law change !
Have you noticed that of all the branded shopping trolleys laying abandoned in city streets, those with the Aldi logo are not to be seen ?
The difference is that Aldi customers are required to insert a two dollar coin into the security slot to have the use of an Aldi trolley - and they get that coin back when they return the trolley.
We humans are very predictable. If something is free - we abuse that priviledge. Put a small charge on that same service, and our way of thinking and acting - changes entirely !
If we want to free our streets and parks of abandoned shopping trolleys we need a law change to make all stores that provide shopping trolleys introduce this " coin hire " inducement.
Curbing the loss from trolley replacement may even deliver a small price reduction in the weekly grocery bill !
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Council Rates exemptions !
Over a hundred years ago a benevolent government exempted churches and religious organizations, charities, schools and government instrumentalities from having to pay council rates.
Today, the rates burden falls disproportionally on Mum and Dad homeowners - and specially on those trying to earn a living running a business. In some areas, seventy percent of council rate income comes from the rates levied on the business community.
The rate for home owners is pegged and balanced against inflation, but even so the average family is providing the money for the bulk of council services and many of the people exempt under this legislation are really commercial operations.
Pity the council with a vast tract of Housing Commission homes within it's boundaries. The Housing Commission is exempt from council rates even though it charges rent for those dwellings - and it's tenants enjoy the full scope of council services.
Churches, charities and schools do not pay rates and in some cases they conduct commercial operations which produce profit. This rates exemption is carefully crafted into operational plans - and often gives them a competitive edge over others who do not enjoy this advantage.
Perhaps the time is approaching when this blanket ban on paying rates should be abolished - and replaced with a " case by case " appraisal for either full or partial rate exemption - until the next regular review.
Country councils fare poorly under the present regime. The NSW Forestry Corporation controls two million hectares of forest and reports a profit of $ 14 million in 2011/12 - and yet it pays no rates and competes with scores of private operators who conduct a similar operation to provide timber for industry - and who do pay council rates.
The problem with " blanket " exemptions is that clever accountants tailor commercial operations within the scope of the act to gain an advantage. A move to a regime where each case was examined on the basis of it's merits would level the playing field.
The ability to pay should be the prime consideration !
Today, the rates burden falls disproportionally on Mum and Dad homeowners - and specially on those trying to earn a living running a business. In some areas, seventy percent of council rate income comes from the rates levied on the business community.
The rate for home owners is pegged and balanced against inflation, but even so the average family is providing the money for the bulk of council services and many of the people exempt under this legislation are really commercial operations.
Pity the council with a vast tract of Housing Commission homes within it's boundaries. The Housing Commission is exempt from council rates even though it charges rent for those dwellings - and it's tenants enjoy the full scope of council services.
Churches, charities and schools do not pay rates and in some cases they conduct commercial operations which produce profit. This rates exemption is carefully crafted into operational plans - and often gives them a competitive edge over others who do not enjoy this advantage.
Perhaps the time is approaching when this blanket ban on paying rates should be abolished - and replaced with a " case by case " appraisal for either full or partial rate exemption - until the next regular review.
Country councils fare poorly under the present regime. The NSW Forestry Corporation controls two million hectares of forest and reports a profit of $ 14 million in 2011/12 - and yet it pays no rates and competes with scores of private operators who conduct a similar operation to provide timber for industry - and who do pay council rates.
The problem with " blanket " exemptions is that clever accountants tailor commercial operations within the scope of the act to gain an advantage. A move to a regime where each case was examined on the basis of it's merits would level the playing field.
The ability to pay should be the prime consideration !
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