Tonight most of the Australian population will have a few drinks and stay up late to watch the fireworks as they welcome in a new year.
This new year looks like bringing with it a lot more problems than the old year delivered, and one of those problems will be an increase in the tax harvest scattered across most aspects of life.
It seems to be a rite of passage that state governments see the new year as the starting date for implementing their never ending quest for more money. From tomorrow there will be some tax increases that are hard to miss. For instance, train and bus fares will jump seven and a half percent.
The tax increases that go unnoticed are the ones that subtly add to the cost of living. All the fees that get tacked on to any matter proceeding through the courts will rise from tomorrow. All sorts of licenses - including the compulsory green slip needed to register a car - will marginally rise.
None of these are large enough to generate a public out cry - but they will take a few dollars here and there out of your pocket - and for some strange reason they never seem to tally in the published rate of inflation.
It is often called " the nickel and dime " approach.
Many will face this new year with trepidation - because job security is threatened by the financial meltdown and the extent of the world recession has yet to be determined.
We will probably all survive to greet another new year twelve months from now - but as a wise man once predicted - nothing is certain - except " death and taxes " !
Expect those taxes to inch ever upward every year when the fireworks end !
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
A WIN-WIN situation !
There is no doubt that Wollongong council is guilty of a massive dereliction of duty in allowing our main sporting stadium and entertainment centres to be concentrated at the lower end of Crown street - without any attempt to provide parking.
The present meltdown may actually provide the key to unscrambling this unholy mess !
The " Gravity " proposal will not be built in the immediate future - and there is a doubt that it would be viable if the competing centre in Keira street ever eventually gets under way. That leaves the old Dwyer's site a vacant blot on the landscape.
Nobody is suggesting that parking to service Wollongong's needs should be free.
Now would be a good time for the council to be creative and provide an incentive for this to be turned into several levels of paid parking - with the space above zoned for luxury apartment living.
The incentive to attract developer interest should be a council offer to make this development rate free for a ninety nine year period.
That would be a huge attraction because rates cut deeply into the profits of any commercial venture - and that includes car parking. The same applies to choosing a dwelling in which to live - and it seems certain that freedom from future inflation increases would be a major attraction.
The opportunity to free the city of the blight of an entertainment district lacking parking is knocking on the door. It is just a matter of whether this city has the gumption and vision to seize that opportunity !
The present meltdown may actually provide the key to unscrambling this unholy mess !
The " Gravity " proposal will not be built in the immediate future - and there is a doubt that it would be viable if the competing centre in Keira street ever eventually gets under way. That leaves the old Dwyer's site a vacant blot on the landscape.
Nobody is suggesting that parking to service Wollongong's needs should be free.
Now would be a good time for the council to be creative and provide an incentive for this to be turned into several levels of paid parking - with the space above zoned for luxury apartment living.
The incentive to attract developer interest should be a council offer to make this development rate free for a ninety nine year period.
That would be a huge attraction because rates cut deeply into the profits of any commercial venture - and that includes car parking. The same applies to choosing a dwelling in which to live - and it seems certain that freedom from future inflation increases would be a major attraction.
The opportunity to free the city of the blight of an entertainment district lacking parking is knocking on the door. It is just a matter of whether this city has the gumption and vision to seize that opportunity !
Monday, 29 December 2008
Recipe for Armageddon !
The events in Gaza defy logic ! Palestinian militants fire rockets and mortars into Israel, targeting the civilian population. The Israeli defence forces hit back with air strikes that kill 280 people - and wound over double that number.
The Palestinians claim that they are fighting a war to reclaim their country. The Israelis say they are defending their civilian population from acts of war intended to promote genocide. Both attitudes have elements of truth.
Hostilities have been ongoing since 1948 - and there is every chance that in the future they may escalate to the point where nuclear weapons are used.
The arms race has changed in recent years. Israel is known to have atomic weapons. Unstable and militant Islamic nation Pakistan has developed nuclear weapons very recently - and close neighbour Iran is rumoured to be well on the way to joining the nuclear club.
The total lack of logic where religion is involved makes Armageddon a likely eventual outcome.
If the radical Palestinian elements are given a nuclear bomb there is little doubt that they would deploy it against an Israeli city - and if that happened there is no doubt that Israel would use it's nuclear weapons in defence.
Just how far such a nuclear exchange could spread would be any one's guess, but while ever hatred is measured beyond reason the unthinkable is not only possible - but inevitable.
There is no answer. No amount of negotiation and no action by other countries is going to defuse the core reason for this ongoing war.
It will be left to the writers of future history books to ponder on what might have been !
The Palestinians claim that they are fighting a war to reclaim their country. The Israelis say they are defending their civilian population from acts of war intended to promote genocide. Both attitudes have elements of truth.
Hostilities have been ongoing since 1948 - and there is every chance that in the future they may escalate to the point where nuclear weapons are used.
The arms race has changed in recent years. Israel is known to have atomic weapons. Unstable and militant Islamic nation Pakistan has developed nuclear weapons very recently - and close neighbour Iran is rumoured to be well on the way to joining the nuclear club.
The total lack of logic where religion is involved makes Armageddon a likely eventual outcome.
If the radical Palestinian elements are given a nuclear bomb there is little doubt that they would deploy it against an Israeli city - and if that happened there is no doubt that Israel would use it's nuclear weapons in defence.
Just how far such a nuclear exchange could spread would be any one's guess, but while ever hatred is measured beyond reason the unthinkable is not only possible - but inevitable.
There is no answer. No amount of negotiation and no action by other countries is going to defuse the core reason for this ongoing war.
It will be left to the writers of future history books to ponder on what might have been !
Sunday, 28 December 2008
A " Dark Knight " opportunity !
A lot of people are in trouble because of what they perceived as a sure fire, money making opportunity.
In July toll company Brisconnections floated at $ 3 a share - but quickly tanked and the share price dropped to an incredible one tenth of one cent a share. Many jumped in and bought huge quantities, lured by this companies stated promise of paying a 5.95 cent dividend in November. It looked like a sure fire road to immense riches.
What few bothered to find out was the fine print. Brisconnections floated on the condition that shareholders pay an additional $1 per share on April 29, hence the holders of those shares suddenly found themselves facing a payout way beyond their means - and to add to the misery - the company cut that dividend back to .05 cents - and delayed it until after the $1 call.
Shocked shareholders learned that they could not abandon their shareholding - and they faced loss of their homes, cars and personal wealth if the company pursued it's legal obligations and sued them for the money.
The shares are on the market - but of course there are no buyers.
It is amazing that some smart entrepreneur has not seized the opportunity offering. Those in trouble would heave a sigh of relief if they could find a buyer for their shares - and the debt would immediately transfer to the new owner.
What an opportunity for a person with absolutely no assets. No house. No car. Not a brass razoo in the bank - to offer to take those shares of the hands of distressed buyers - for a fee.
It would be a case of a " Dark Knight " riding to the rescue - and in the process becoming incredibly rich provided the money was a " donation " to a third person who had no business connection with the buyer.
There would be no point in suing a person without assets - and those with assets would be more than willing to pay a handsome fee to preserve those assets.
Opportunity knocks !
In July toll company Brisconnections floated at $ 3 a share - but quickly tanked and the share price dropped to an incredible one tenth of one cent a share. Many jumped in and bought huge quantities, lured by this companies stated promise of paying a 5.95 cent dividend in November. It looked like a sure fire road to immense riches.
What few bothered to find out was the fine print. Brisconnections floated on the condition that shareholders pay an additional $1 per share on April 29, hence the holders of those shares suddenly found themselves facing a payout way beyond their means - and to add to the misery - the company cut that dividend back to .05 cents - and delayed it until after the $1 call.
Shocked shareholders learned that they could not abandon their shareholding - and they faced loss of their homes, cars and personal wealth if the company pursued it's legal obligations and sued them for the money.
The shares are on the market - but of course there are no buyers.
It is amazing that some smart entrepreneur has not seized the opportunity offering. Those in trouble would heave a sigh of relief if they could find a buyer for their shares - and the debt would immediately transfer to the new owner.
What an opportunity for a person with absolutely no assets. No house. No car. Not a brass razoo in the bank - to offer to take those shares of the hands of distressed buyers - for a fee.
It would be a case of a " Dark Knight " riding to the rescue - and in the process becoming incredibly rich provided the money was a " donation " to a third person who had no business connection with the buyer.
There would be no point in suing a person without assets - and those with assets would be more than willing to pay a handsome fee to preserve those assets.
Opportunity knocks !
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Disaster awaits us !
The Australian Bio Security Co-Op Research centre for emerging infectious diseases has released a chilling report on probable coming events.
A warming world and a rapidly increasing population in nations to our north make the emergence of new infectious diseases - and the reactivation of some old diseases - to be inevitable.
The warnings are there to be seen. It is only a matter of months since SARS broke out in some hot spots - and deaths from bird flu are ongoing in some of our northern neighbouring countries.
Decades ago the world was shocked when a totally new disease - AIDS - ravaged the gay communities of the world, and today that disease is still killing thousands of heterosexuals in many parts of the world.
The problem is that a warming world in combination with increasing numbers of people living in close proximity to each other - and to animals - generates the opportunity for new viruses to emerge.
There is always the chance of a disease of unprecedented power sweeping the scythe of death across nations - and in most cases new diseases are immune from conventional remedies and it takes years for science to devise an answer.
At the same time, old diseases are capable of mutation and taking on new defences and some that could scour population centres are Blue Tongue, Rabies and Foot and Mouth disease.
Customs and immigration are our first line of defence, but in this era of air transport a perfect defence is impossible. The best we can hope is that science is on the ball and working to anticipate what can appear suddenly out of left field - and that luck is on our side !
A warming world and a rapidly increasing population in nations to our north make the emergence of new infectious diseases - and the reactivation of some old diseases - to be inevitable.
The warnings are there to be seen. It is only a matter of months since SARS broke out in some hot spots - and deaths from bird flu are ongoing in some of our northern neighbouring countries.
Decades ago the world was shocked when a totally new disease - AIDS - ravaged the gay communities of the world, and today that disease is still killing thousands of heterosexuals in many parts of the world.
The problem is that a warming world in combination with increasing numbers of people living in close proximity to each other - and to animals - generates the opportunity for new viruses to emerge.
There is always the chance of a disease of unprecedented power sweeping the scythe of death across nations - and in most cases new diseases are immune from conventional remedies and it takes years for science to devise an answer.
At the same time, old diseases are capable of mutation and taking on new defences and some that could scour population centres are Blue Tongue, Rabies and Foot and Mouth disease.
Customs and immigration are our first line of defence, but in this era of air transport a perfect defence is impossible. The best we can hope is that science is on the ball and working to anticipate what can appear suddenly out of left field - and that luck is on our side !
Friday, 26 December 2008
A mystery benefactor !
Something strange is happening in Shellharbour village !
Last month a package containing $ 210 was received at a local burger store. A note enclosed asked the proprietors to keep ten dollars - and spend the remaining two hundred dollars giving free burgers to their customers. The identity of this benefactor remains a mystery.
Two weeks later there was a similar incident. This time the money went to the proprietors of a chocolate shop - and once again lucky customers were overjoyed to receive their purchases free.
To heighten the mystery, half of a map accompanied the first and second act of altruism - and when combined this map led to the location of a third amount of $ 210 - this time destined for free food from a local cafe.
Rumours are going the rounds of Shellharbour village. Some suppose that this is the legacy of a deceased former resident with no close relatives to share his money while others favour a more bizarre twist associated with the spirit world.
There is a chance that this may be the end of the benevolence as a cryptic message on the map reached conclusion - but there is also no hint as to where this money is coming from - and therefore it may continue.
At the risk of being cynical, there is also a very good chance that this is the creation of a very smart advertising executive.
Things are tough and times are hard - and there is nothing like a mystery - particularly one that hints at the supernatural - to get people's attention.
Could it be that the merchants of Shellharbour Village have combined to create this sensation as a way of drawing people to their small community to shop ? If so, the advertising it has created is many times the value of the six hundred and thirty dollars spent giving away free goodies !
If this is the case it shows a " get up and go " spirit that is a welcome example in these difficult times.
Whatever the cause - there are some who will be drawn to shop in the village in the hope that they may be a beneficiary of the mystery - and get something for free.
Who could ask for better advertising ?
Last month a package containing $ 210 was received at a local burger store. A note enclosed asked the proprietors to keep ten dollars - and spend the remaining two hundred dollars giving free burgers to their customers. The identity of this benefactor remains a mystery.
Two weeks later there was a similar incident. This time the money went to the proprietors of a chocolate shop - and once again lucky customers were overjoyed to receive their purchases free.
To heighten the mystery, half of a map accompanied the first and second act of altruism - and when combined this map led to the location of a third amount of $ 210 - this time destined for free food from a local cafe.
Rumours are going the rounds of Shellharbour village. Some suppose that this is the legacy of a deceased former resident with no close relatives to share his money while others favour a more bizarre twist associated with the spirit world.
There is a chance that this may be the end of the benevolence as a cryptic message on the map reached conclusion - but there is also no hint as to where this money is coming from - and therefore it may continue.
At the risk of being cynical, there is also a very good chance that this is the creation of a very smart advertising executive.
Things are tough and times are hard - and there is nothing like a mystery - particularly one that hints at the supernatural - to get people's attention.
Could it be that the merchants of Shellharbour Village have combined to create this sensation as a way of drawing people to their small community to shop ? If so, the advertising it has created is many times the value of the six hundred and thirty dollars spent giving away free goodies !
If this is the case it shows a " get up and go " spirit that is a welcome example in these difficult times.
Whatever the cause - there are some who will be drawn to shop in the village in the hope that they may be a beneficiary of the mystery - and get something for free.
Who could ask for better advertising ?
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Opportunity knocks !
Christmas day ! This morning countless kids will shriek with joy as they open their presents. Later, families will celebrate the festive season with Christmas dinner. The only bleak thought is the certainty that for a few people Christmas will be a tragedy - because of accidents causing death on our roads.
There never will be a completely safe road system - but the roads we have leave a lot to be desired. We badly need a divided highway linking Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - and the Princes Highway - linking the sea-bord towns between this state and Victoria is an accident waiting to happen.
There is a plan to spend our way out of the looming recession, and top of the list of things to do should be the creation of the road system this country so badly needs.
It will be a huge task. We compare our present roads unfavourably with other countries, but in all fairness it must be remembered that Australia is a continent similar in size to the United States - but with a population of just twenty two million - compared to their three hundred million people.
This world recession is not going to be over soon - and spending our way out of trouble is likely to be a multi year project. There are plans to improve the road system in the pipeline - but they need expansion and fine tuning to soak up the expected unemployed and deliver a road system that will not only save lives - but create the commercial network the economy needs.
A good road system would return a handsome dividend for this country's future !
There never will be a completely safe road system - but the roads we have leave a lot to be desired. We badly need a divided highway linking Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane - and the Princes Highway - linking the sea-bord towns between this state and Victoria is an accident waiting to happen.
There is a plan to spend our way out of the looming recession, and top of the list of things to do should be the creation of the road system this country so badly needs.
It will be a huge task. We compare our present roads unfavourably with other countries, but in all fairness it must be remembered that Australia is a continent similar in size to the United States - but with a population of just twenty two million - compared to their three hundred million people.
This world recession is not going to be over soon - and spending our way out of trouble is likely to be a multi year project. There are plans to improve the road system in the pipeline - but they need expansion and fine tuning to soak up the expected unemployed and deliver a road system that will not only save lives - but create the commercial network the economy needs.
A good road system would return a handsome dividend for this country's future !
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