We have come a long way in the war against cigarette smoking. Older folk will remember the days when people smoked in the supermarkets and even doctor's waiting rooms had ash trays. Slowly and surely the net has been closing and each year smoking options become fewer.
It was probably inevitable that someone would design and produce a cigarette that does not contain nicotine, and which supposedly meets all health guidelines - and yet it will attract hostility from the anti-smoking establishment, despite needing no approval from the New South Wales Health and Therapeutic Goods Administration ( TGA ).
It really is a clever diversion from the traditional cigarette that not only affects the health of the smoker, but spreads a toxic cloud of sidestream smoke that will shorten the life of innocent people in the vicinity of the smoker.
The E-Cigarette is a two piece system. It consists of what many years ago would have been described as a " cigarette holder " - a reusable item that holds a rechargeable battery that serves a small heating coil. The " smoker " inserts a tube that looks similar to a conventional cigarette, but which contains vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol - which when heated by that coil - gives off a vapour which is pleasing to the user's taste buds.
The big difference is that this " emission " takes place directly into the user's mouth, unlike conventional cigarettes which emit harmful smoke into the atmosphere.
Some in the medical profession welcome this innovation as a tool to banish nicotine. They are sending patients to the point of sale because it is less harmful than conventional cigarettes and therefore a better option when use of nicotine replacement patches have failed to satisfy cravings.
It will be interesting to see the public reaction when E-Cigarette users " lightup " in a pub, club or restaurant. The sticking point may be the fact that this new innovation still looks like a cigarette, despite it emitting no smoke cloud and only serving the user's taste buds in a similar manner to a piece of confectionery.
It seems inevitable that there will be an outcry from the usual anti-tobacco fanatics and calls to have E-Cigarettes banned.
It would be a pity if a clever innovation that has real hope of weaning some hopelessly addicted smokers from the evil weed was removed as an option - purely because the sight of a pseudo-cigarette offended the do-gooder fraternity.
The anti-nicotine lobby has been baying for so long that it has lost sight of the final objective !
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Friday, 6 January 2012
A " Ransom " nightmare !
An Australian man faces a ransom demand from his captors that seems well beyond his capacity to pay. Warren Rodwell ran a small village shop with his Philippina wife on the restive Philippines island of Mindanao. On December 5, a Muslim separationist group kidnapped him at gun point and now demands almost two million Australian dollars ranson in exchange for his release.
All sides of Australian politics agree that under no circumstances should we agree to pay ransom demands. It would be the first step on a very slippery slope, and criminal elements would immediately target Australians as a way to extort money. We have had a practical example of how this works off the Horn of Africa, where piracy has increased dramatically since ship owners started paying ransoms to free their hijacked ships.
Two million dollars seems an impossible demand for a small shopkeeper. How would the average Australian fare here in Australia trying to raise that sort of money if a relative was facing death overseas unless such a ransom was paid ?
Basically, the kidnappers are Muslim terrorists and if this money is paid it will be used to finance death and destruction in their quest to force Sharia law onto all residents of the Philipinnes. They are obviously a well organised group because they have provided a " proof of life " video, which shows a distressed Mr Rodwell pleading for the ransom to be paid to secure his release.
There are probably behind the scenes negotiations going on between the terrorists and people from government agencies from both countries, and it is possible that the terrorists may be convinced that their demands are hopelessly beyond the victim's ability to pay - and settle for a more modest amount.
Unfortunately, that is no guarantee of a successful release. These terrorists have shown no compunction when it comes to killing - and once the money is paid they may or may not complete their part of the transaction.
Warren Rodwell's life hangs in the balance. Becoming a ransom victim seems to be a possible fate that awaits any Australian living in a foreign country with an insurgency problem. Even visiting such a place as a tourist raises the risk factor. It is certainly something about which we should think - long and hard - before finalising any overseas holiday plans !
All sides of Australian politics agree that under no circumstances should we agree to pay ransom demands. It would be the first step on a very slippery slope, and criminal elements would immediately target Australians as a way to extort money. We have had a practical example of how this works off the Horn of Africa, where piracy has increased dramatically since ship owners started paying ransoms to free their hijacked ships.
Two million dollars seems an impossible demand for a small shopkeeper. How would the average Australian fare here in Australia trying to raise that sort of money if a relative was facing death overseas unless such a ransom was paid ?
Basically, the kidnappers are Muslim terrorists and if this money is paid it will be used to finance death and destruction in their quest to force Sharia law onto all residents of the Philipinnes. They are obviously a well organised group because they have provided a " proof of life " video, which shows a distressed Mr Rodwell pleading for the ransom to be paid to secure his release.
There are probably behind the scenes negotiations going on between the terrorists and people from government agencies from both countries, and it is possible that the terrorists may be convinced that their demands are hopelessly beyond the victim's ability to pay - and settle for a more modest amount.
Unfortunately, that is no guarantee of a successful release. These terrorists have shown no compunction when it comes to killing - and once the money is paid they may or may not complete their part of the transaction.
Warren Rodwell's life hangs in the balance. Becoming a ransom victim seems to be a possible fate that awaits any Australian living in a foreign country with an insurgency problem. Even visiting such a place as a tourist raises the risk factor. It is certainly something about which we should think - long and hard - before finalising any overseas holiday plans !
Thursday, 5 January 2012
A recipe for murder !
Yesterday, two people died from poisoning in a leading Sydney hospital. The cream of Australia's medical science knew exactly what form of poison was circulating in their systems, but were not able to save them. There simply is no antidote for this poison.
The victims cooked and shared a meal of mushrooms on New Year's eve. It seems evident that this meal was from what they supposed was " field mushrooms " growing in the Australian Capital Territory. What they ate were " Death Cap " mushrooms, almost identical in every way to field mushrooms, but fairly common in the ACT in areas that also contain oak trees. They have also been reported in isolation in Victoria and South Australia.
Identifying the Death Cap mushroom requires specialist knowledge that is beyond the average person. Long time residents of the ACT are usually aware that this fatal mushroom - considered the most poisonous fungi in the world - grows in their area and take precautions, but there is concern that the influx of tourists, particularly Asians who feature mushrooms in their cooking - will become future victims.
The deaths have attracted media coverage and hopefully this will put people on their guard to be wary of any mushroom growing wild. Field mushrooms sprout from the ground after summer rain in most parts of Australia, but knowing that there is even a remote possibility that they may be of the Death Cap variety is a very good reason for giving them a miss. It is better to be sure than sorry - or dead !
Unfortunately, there is another side to this publicity. We have just informed those with murder in mind that a mushroom exists that is hard to detect, and that if it is eaten by an unwary victim it will bring death within a matter of days with absolute certainty. We have delivered a way of retribution for those with a cheating spouse - or the way to hasten a rich relative to a more conveniently timed death.
It is said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ! How convenient would it be to make a gift of a delicacy such as supposed field mushrooms to a victim, knowing that intent would be impossible to prove because of the similarity of field mushrooms and Death Caps ?
Obviously, those with enemies would be wise to keep that in mind when planning meals - and receiving gifts !
The victims cooked and shared a meal of mushrooms on New Year's eve. It seems evident that this meal was from what they supposed was " field mushrooms " growing in the Australian Capital Territory. What they ate were " Death Cap " mushrooms, almost identical in every way to field mushrooms, but fairly common in the ACT in areas that also contain oak trees. They have also been reported in isolation in Victoria and South Australia.
Identifying the Death Cap mushroom requires specialist knowledge that is beyond the average person. Long time residents of the ACT are usually aware that this fatal mushroom - considered the most poisonous fungi in the world - grows in their area and take precautions, but there is concern that the influx of tourists, particularly Asians who feature mushrooms in their cooking - will become future victims.
The deaths have attracted media coverage and hopefully this will put people on their guard to be wary of any mushroom growing wild. Field mushrooms sprout from the ground after summer rain in most parts of Australia, but knowing that there is even a remote possibility that they may be of the Death Cap variety is a very good reason for giving them a miss. It is better to be sure than sorry - or dead !
Unfortunately, there is another side to this publicity. We have just informed those with murder in mind that a mushroom exists that is hard to detect, and that if it is eaten by an unwary victim it will bring death within a matter of days with absolute certainty. We have delivered a way of retribution for those with a cheating spouse - or the way to hasten a rich relative to a more conveniently timed death.
It is said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ! How convenient would it be to make a gift of a delicacy such as supposed field mushrooms to a victim, knowing that intent would be impossible to prove because of the similarity of field mushrooms and Death Caps ?
Obviously, those with enemies would be wise to keep that in mind when planning meals - and receiving gifts !
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
A " Second chance " !
" Welfare Mums " is a derogatory term used to describe teenage girls who get pregnant, drop out of school and fail to achieve their Higher School Certificate qualification - condemning them to a life of low paid jobs and welfare dependency.
A scheme has been devised to get them back into the classroom and motivate them to have a second try at achieving that year 12 HSC, opening the door to better jobs and breaking the welfare cycle.
It is very much a " carrot and stick " approach. Young women already on welfare will be required to attend a Centrelink interview when their child reaches six months age, and if they join the scheme - it will commence when their baby is one year old.
Special benefits will ease their way back into the learning cycle. They will receive free childcare and be referred to " special services " by Centrelink, with one on one counselling - and a " parenting payment " of $ 320 a week.
Obviously some will fail. Once the " learning cycle " of school routine has been discontinued it is hard to reattain, but Centrelink will lean over backwards to be supportive. A lot will depend on the individual. Those with the foresight to see a better life ahead and a wish to avoid the misery of welfare dependency will make the effort - and succeed.
This is a gender selective Centrelink initiative. The statistics on children who drop out of school before attempting to sit for their HSC shows that 17% are girls - and a whopping 27% are boys.
The equal opportunities people will obviously be waiting to see what special initiative Centrelink is planning to reign in males who leave with insufficient job qualifications.
A scheme has been devised to get them back into the classroom and motivate them to have a second try at achieving that year 12 HSC, opening the door to better jobs and breaking the welfare cycle.
It is very much a " carrot and stick " approach. Young women already on welfare will be required to attend a Centrelink interview when their child reaches six months age, and if they join the scheme - it will commence when their baby is one year old.
Special benefits will ease their way back into the learning cycle. They will receive free childcare and be referred to " special services " by Centrelink, with one on one counselling - and a " parenting payment " of $ 320 a week.
Obviously some will fail. Once the " learning cycle " of school routine has been discontinued it is hard to reattain, but Centrelink will lean over backwards to be supportive. A lot will depend on the individual. Those with the foresight to see a better life ahead and a wish to avoid the misery of welfare dependency will make the effort - and succeed.
This is a gender selective Centrelink initiative. The statistics on children who drop out of school before attempting to sit for their HSC shows that 17% are girls - and a whopping 27% are boys.
The equal opportunities people will obviously be waiting to see what special initiative Centrelink is planning to reign in males who leave with insufficient job qualifications.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
The " Foreclosure " epidemic !
The saddest calamity that can happen to any family is to lose the roof over their heads. In the past year the issue of foreclosure notices has reached epidemic proportions - an increase of 22.5%.
In the ten months to November 2011, the Supreme court of New South Wales issued 2466 writs of possession to allow mortgagees to take control of homes with mortgage arrears. The residents are forced to vacate - sometimes forcibly assisted by the Sheriff. It is chilling for people to find themselves homeless - with their possessions dumped beside the road - and with nowhere to go.
The reason families find themselves in trouble are varied, but high on the list are job losses. We live in uncertain economic times and even " safe " jobs can suddenly disappear. Illness is another prominent reason, and relationship breakups obviously divide the numbers contributing to keeping the loan afloat.
Saddest of all is how this affects little kids. In one moment the safety of living in a nice home with a caring mum and dad is shattered - and life suddenly becomes a nightmare of short stays with relatives or friends, and the inevitable gaps when the family is living in homeless refuges.
Foreclosures have always been with us, but the chaotic state of world finances is putting added pressure on the industries we rely on for jobs, and there are no indications that this will start to improve anytime soon. Now is a good time to take stock of the options - and to deal with a mortgage crisis in a calm and professional way.
The greatest mistake those slipping into mortgage arrears make - is to ignore it. Some do this in the hope that it will miraculously " go away ", but of course it doesn't. The wise will immediately seek out the bank or building society and be frank about their situation. Lenders are emphatic that foreclosure is their absolutely last choice. In most cases, the problem causing the loss of funds is only temporary, hence some sort of bridging arrangement will tide the borrower over - and the crisis will be averted.
In many cases the mortgagee will alter the loan terms to reduce payments to an affordable level. Often all that will be required for a period of time will be the payment of interest, while the repayment of capital will be deferred until a later time by extending the loan period.
Most people have scrimped and saved to find the deposit to allow them to buy a home. It is usually the biggest financial transaction they will make in their entire lifetime. Not only will foreclosure deny them an asset to fund their retirement and pass on to their children, it will damage their credit rating and reduce their chance of recovery - and again buying a home - when conditions improve.
The best advice anyone can give to those with a mortgage payment problem is to immediately go and talk to the mortgage holder. To do so greatly enhances the chances of surviving the crisis - and keeping your most valuable asset intact !
In the ten months to November 2011, the Supreme court of New South Wales issued 2466 writs of possession to allow mortgagees to take control of homes with mortgage arrears. The residents are forced to vacate - sometimes forcibly assisted by the Sheriff. It is chilling for people to find themselves homeless - with their possessions dumped beside the road - and with nowhere to go.
The reason families find themselves in trouble are varied, but high on the list are job losses. We live in uncertain economic times and even " safe " jobs can suddenly disappear. Illness is another prominent reason, and relationship breakups obviously divide the numbers contributing to keeping the loan afloat.
Saddest of all is how this affects little kids. In one moment the safety of living in a nice home with a caring mum and dad is shattered - and life suddenly becomes a nightmare of short stays with relatives or friends, and the inevitable gaps when the family is living in homeless refuges.
Foreclosures have always been with us, but the chaotic state of world finances is putting added pressure on the industries we rely on for jobs, and there are no indications that this will start to improve anytime soon. Now is a good time to take stock of the options - and to deal with a mortgage crisis in a calm and professional way.
The greatest mistake those slipping into mortgage arrears make - is to ignore it. Some do this in the hope that it will miraculously " go away ", but of course it doesn't. The wise will immediately seek out the bank or building society and be frank about their situation. Lenders are emphatic that foreclosure is their absolutely last choice. In most cases, the problem causing the loss of funds is only temporary, hence some sort of bridging arrangement will tide the borrower over - and the crisis will be averted.
In many cases the mortgagee will alter the loan terms to reduce payments to an affordable level. Often all that will be required for a period of time will be the payment of interest, while the repayment of capital will be deferred until a later time by extending the loan period.
Most people have scrimped and saved to find the deposit to allow them to buy a home. It is usually the biggest financial transaction they will make in their entire lifetime. Not only will foreclosure deny them an asset to fund their retirement and pass on to their children, it will damage their credit rating and reduce their chance of recovery - and again buying a home - when conditions improve.
The best advice anyone can give to those with a mortgage payment problem is to immediately go and talk to the mortgage holder. To do so greatly enhances the chances of surviving the crisis - and keeping your most valuable asset intact !
Monday, 2 January 2012
The " Stay at School " allowance !
Decades ago, it was the common perception that when a child turned sixteen - that was when they finished school and went and got a job and started to contribute to family finances. This was specially true of children from low income families.
Times have changed. That piece of paper with a " Higher School Certificate " label on it is now essential to enter most professions. Without it - you can forget nursing, becoming a school teacher - or entering university for further avenues of study and qualification.
What most low income families dreaded was that sixteenth birthday - because that was the start of the government withdrawing a tax benefit that for many meant the difference of making ends meet - or sinking further below the poverty line.
In poor families there was no question of the son or daughter remaining at school. They could not afford the loss of income from the withdrawal of a tax benefit, and so it became a matter of getting a job or getting a job search subsidy as a replacement.
In this bright new year that has changed. Families with a son or daughter aged sixteen to nineteen are eligible for a payment of $ 4200 a year - provided that they remain at school.
It helps alleviate the burden of teenager costs in low income families, and at the same time increases the opportunity for their children to achieve the education standards that are the passport to a better life.
It is a step in the right direction, establishing a more level playing field in the combative area of job opportunities.
Times have changed. That piece of paper with a " Higher School Certificate " label on it is now essential to enter most professions. Without it - you can forget nursing, becoming a school teacher - or entering university for further avenues of study and qualification.
What most low income families dreaded was that sixteenth birthday - because that was the start of the government withdrawing a tax benefit that for many meant the difference of making ends meet - or sinking further below the poverty line.
In poor families there was no question of the son or daughter remaining at school. They could not afford the loss of income from the withdrawal of a tax benefit, and so it became a matter of getting a job or getting a job search subsidy as a replacement.
In this bright new year that has changed. Families with a son or daughter aged sixteen to nineteen are eligible for a payment of $ 4200 a year - provided that they remain at school.
It helps alleviate the burden of teenager costs in low income families, and at the same time increases the opportunity for their children to achieve the education standards that are the passport to a better life.
It is a step in the right direction, establishing a more level playing field in the combative area of job opportunities.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
What this bright New Year brings !
At the stroke of midnight six million dollars worth of fireworks lit up the Sydney sky, bringing in the year two thousand and twelve. Some people made new year resolutions, but what this new year delivers seems to be set in stone.
The old year saw three hundred and seventy four residents of this state die in road accidents - and a whopping eighteen thousand three hundred suffered serious injury. Despite the best efforts of the police and those tasked with road safety, there is no reason to believe that the figures will be greatly changed this time next year.
We have had the coolest start to summer in fifty years, and yet the combination of a mild winter and copious rain has greatly increased the fuel load surrounding our cities and towns. If the anticipated very hot conditions arrive and bring with them north westerly winds, there is every chance that this late summer will see the worst cyclical fire storms in decades.
There will be the usual inevitable increase in the prices charged for electricity, gas and water, and at the same time the lowest paid in the workforce will drop about $ 30,000 from their superannuation payout when they retire - because of money saving changes to the rules. At the same time, economists expect the stock market will surge as we begin a new cycle, helping to widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Few will be surprised to learn that dishonest politicians charged with a crime are expecting taxpayers to pick up the tab for their legal costs. They will naturally hire the most experienced - and most expensive - lawyers and we will be treated to the " theatre " that passes for justice in this unequal world.
Those found guilty will be severely punished and lambasted by the judge, but an appeal will be lodged - to be heard long after the matter has faded from the news. Inevitably - this appeal will result in the sentence being drastically reduced or even waived - and the legal bill will again be sheeted home to the taxpayers.
We live in a world of " bread and circuses " - where that old adage - " The more things change, the more they stay the same " still rings true !
The old year saw three hundred and seventy four residents of this state die in road accidents - and a whopping eighteen thousand three hundred suffered serious injury. Despite the best efforts of the police and those tasked with road safety, there is no reason to believe that the figures will be greatly changed this time next year.
We have had the coolest start to summer in fifty years, and yet the combination of a mild winter and copious rain has greatly increased the fuel load surrounding our cities and towns. If the anticipated very hot conditions arrive and bring with them north westerly winds, there is every chance that this late summer will see the worst cyclical fire storms in decades.
There will be the usual inevitable increase in the prices charged for electricity, gas and water, and at the same time the lowest paid in the workforce will drop about $ 30,000 from their superannuation payout when they retire - because of money saving changes to the rules. At the same time, economists expect the stock market will surge as we begin a new cycle, helping to widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Few will be surprised to learn that dishonest politicians charged with a crime are expecting taxpayers to pick up the tab for their legal costs. They will naturally hire the most experienced - and most expensive - lawyers and we will be treated to the " theatre " that passes for justice in this unequal world.
Those found guilty will be severely punished and lambasted by the judge, but an appeal will be lodged - to be heard long after the matter has faded from the news. Inevitably - this appeal will result in the sentence being drastically reduced or even waived - and the legal bill will again be sheeted home to the taxpayers.
We live in a world of " bread and circuses " - where that old adage - " The more things change, the more they stay the same " still rings true !
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