Welcome to the first edition of the Weekly Worldwide Roundup. Just a bit of a rundown over what's been happening around the place over the last week or so. I've dug up a few interesting articles and things for you to look at, so check 'em out! Anyways, here goes...
It has been an interesting newsweek worldwide, especially in the Middle East and Africa, particularly in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan and Algeria, where people have been inspired by the successful recent uprising in Tunisia, which resulted in the countries president Zine El Abdine Ben Ali fleeing the country and the entire parliament being sacked. (Read on)
For four days has the battle raged on between the people of Egypt and the Government and Police Force. The riots are in direct response to the massive unemployment, rising food prices and poverty that the majority of people find themselves in, and they have had enough. The government has completely cut off all internet and media in an attempt to curb the uprising, but have been unsuccessful in stopping the protests. (More here, and here).
For more info relationg to the unrest in Yemen, Jordan and Algeria, go Here.
In Lebanon, a strange paradox, with people actually out on the streets in the name of the heavily sectarian Hezbollah Organistion, which has been named by the U.S. and others as being a terrorist organisation. It's pretty hard to know what to make of it all, but a full report can be found here.
A referendum has been held in Sudan this week, with the country's South going to the polls for a secession (Separation from the north), in an attempt to form their own government and become an independent state due to the ignorance shown to their plight by their government. Whether this turns out for good or ill, we shall see, the country of Sudan has been in turmoil for years and knows bloodshed all so well. Further opinions and the bigger picture can be found at Global Voices.
In the US, most news is centred around Barack Obama's annual State of The Union Address, which he gave on thursday. Reviews are a bit mixed it seems, particularly in terms of the budget and how realistic his economic plans actually are, and his approach to tackling the massive debt the country is in. More here. Barck Obama's full speech can be found right here.
Back here in Australia, political news has been dominated by the new tax being brought in on high-income earners to help with the Queensland flood crisis, and the other long and short term effects of the floods across the board, and assessments of the damage. Gillard is due to face some opposition to this tax, as is to be expected, but strangely enough I think it's a good idea. Elsewise everybody's going to have to pay, low earners included. Fact of the matter is, somebody's got to pay for it, and the Government doesn't have any fuckin' money. More comprehensive coverage here, and here.
Anyways that's just about it for this weekend's edition. Hope you all had a great Australia Day!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Ways Forward
We all know the serious implications and effects of our reliance on fossil fuels and the impact this causes on our Earth. The Governments of the world continue to be bogged down in the seemingly unending question of whether climate change is actually real or not. The question has pretty much lost it's relevance in the real world. We need to clean our act up or the planet is doomed. Everybody knows it, so the time has come to actually do something about it. They talk and talk of introducing new measures to cut carbon emissions down, but nothing ever seems to happen. In my opinion, they are barking up the wrong tree anyway. The way forward is to sponsor new, sustainable energy sources. In this way, by promoting the growth of green energy, fossil fuels and their sources will be pushed out of the market. It may take time, but it seems like we don't have a great deal of it. That's why it is important that the Government gets behind these new technologies to give them the boost that they need the Earth needs and we need , to take the country forward towards sustainable living. And who knows? It might actually work and inspire other countries to do the same thing. Why not?
It just so happens that we have the technology available to solve all of our problems. An initiative in "Solar farming", which is effectively just what it sounds like, could provide enough electricity to power the nation. We get a lot of Sun here. Just by harnessing the key forces of Nature, we can learn to live with her. Sun, Wind, Earth and Sea.
Wind is harvested primarily in Europe through the use of massive windmills. Although the technology itself seems to need a bit of an improvement due to the comparatively low, but still quite impressive amount of energy it can generate, in areas of high wind, it can be extremely viable, and science is always on the improve.
Geothermal Energy works primarily on the concept of drawing heat from the Earth and converting it to power, using steam. This technology also looks quite promising, but limited. There is still a bit of improvement in terms of the amount of power produced, but the industry is still in it's very early days and can only improve from here. We are also hampered here in Australia in terms of location. The Earth's crust is deep here, and the heat required lies quite far below the surface. But still there are a few Aussie companies involved, and they will do well.
Another new technology harnesses the endless energy of the sea and rivers with the use of underwater turbines, called Hydroelectric power. There are more and more ideas popping up these days, and people and scientists are cottoning on to the idea of renewable energy and living with the earth. By far the most advanced technology available is the power of the sun. Solar energy is definitely the way forward for Australia. There is a lot of money and improvement in the industry at the moment, the biggest supporters, producers and investors being none other than the Chinese. We could power the nation with it. All we need is the political will, and of course the money to make it happen across the board.
For more information about renewable energy, read on here...
http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/
and here...
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/
It just so happens that we have the technology available to solve all of our problems. An initiative in "Solar farming", which is effectively just what it sounds like, could provide enough electricity to power the nation. We get a lot of Sun here. Just by harnessing the key forces of Nature, we can learn to live with her. Sun, Wind, Earth and Sea.
Wind is harvested primarily in Europe through the use of massive windmills. Although the technology itself seems to need a bit of an improvement due to the comparatively low, but still quite impressive amount of energy it can generate, in areas of high wind, it can be extremely viable, and science is always on the improve.
Geothermal Energy works primarily on the concept of drawing heat from the Earth and converting it to power, using steam. This technology also looks quite promising, but limited. There is still a bit of improvement in terms of the amount of power produced, but the industry is still in it's very early days and can only improve from here. We are also hampered here in Australia in terms of location. The Earth's crust is deep here, and the heat required lies quite far below the surface. But still there are a few Aussie companies involved, and they will do well.
Another new technology harnesses the endless energy of the sea and rivers with the use of underwater turbines, called Hydroelectric power. There are more and more ideas popping up these days, and people and scientists are cottoning on to the idea of renewable energy and living with the earth. By far the most advanced technology available is the power of the sun. Solar energy is definitely the way forward for Australia. There is a lot of money and improvement in the industry at the moment, the biggest supporters, producers and investors being none other than the Chinese. We could power the nation with it. All we need is the political will, and of course the money to make it happen across the board.
For more information about renewable energy, read on here...
http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/
and here...
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Basking in the blissful Glory of Capitalism
ahhhh.... Late night, full of red wine and whiskey, and what to talk about? Lots on my mind lately, too much I spose. How about Capitalism. Man these fat cats sure do have their claws in deep. They control our TV, Newspapers, Education, our MINDS, our MONEY. They, (The Reserve Bank, mostly, but not only), just about own us. We are enslaved in the pursuit of of our Freedom, all locked in to the fight for survival and money to keep us afloat. Just about all of us have debts of some kind, things to do, people and places to see. All made so much more difficult by the interest rates we have to pay and the fucking Goddamn TAXES. Taxes, man. Pretty much all the tax we pay does NOT go to the things we expect it to. Schools, health, education, infrastructure. All that shit that needs a boost and improvement. But no. Instead it all goes to those evil fuckers at the BANKS. They create the money, adding interest and creating inflation, making the dollars we have worth less and less. Interest is the biggest scam on Earth and it kills me to know these Pigs have been getting away with it for so long. The bank creates money for governments, charges interest on it, and guess who foots the bill for the debt created? Us, that's who. We provide the wealth of the nation, but not enough to pay our debt back to the Banks fast enough.
Say there is only one dollar in existence, and the bank expects 10% interest, where does the extra 10% come from? Well, you'll have to ask the bank for another loan, just to pay it back. Too bad the next loan also has interest, and the cycle continues. Oh yeah, sounds pretty fucking fair. The system works so as to create debt, money owed that does not exist, and condemn us to a life of servitude through their clever evil scheme. These sneaky conniving little fuckers are the reason we're all in the state we're in. The people who control the money in a capitalist society control EVERYTHING.
Well fuck them, fuck all that horseshit. Fuck their fossil fuels, their interest rates and Fuck their attempts at globalisation and taking over the world. It sure isn't easy to escape the game, and, after all, my Hypocrisy knows no bounds. I'm as stuck in the system as anyone else, but the sooner we all know what goes on and how, and the more people that know, the sooner we can stand up to these dictator arseholes in their Ivory Towers, and take the world back for the Good guys. They ain't got us yet. Capitalism will go the way of Rome. Greedy and evil men Fail, empires fall.
res ipsa loquitur.
read on... Dare Ya,
http://www.prisonplanet.com/and-now-for-my-next-magic-trick...-no-inflation.html
(copy, paste)
Say there is only one dollar in existence, and the bank expects 10% interest, where does the extra 10% come from? Well, you'll have to ask the bank for another loan, just to pay it back. Too bad the next loan also has interest, and the cycle continues. Oh yeah, sounds pretty fucking fair. The system works so as to create debt, money owed that does not exist, and condemn us to a life of servitude through their clever evil scheme. These sneaky conniving little fuckers are the reason we're all in the state we're in. The people who control the money in a capitalist society control EVERYTHING.
Well fuck them, fuck all that horseshit. Fuck their fossil fuels, their interest rates and Fuck their attempts at globalisation and taking over the world. It sure isn't easy to escape the game, and, after all, my Hypocrisy knows no bounds. I'm as stuck in the system as anyone else, but the sooner we all know what goes on and how, and the more people that know, the sooner we can stand up to these dictator arseholes in their Ivory Towers, and take the world back for the Good guys. They ain't got us yet. Capitalism will go the way of Rome. Greedy and evil men Fail, empires fall.
res ipsa loquitur.
read on... Dare Ya,
http://www.prisonplanet.com/and-now-for-my-next-magic-trick...-no-inflation.html
(copy, paste)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Super, man
Until just recently I had no idea about superannuation. I just thought that it was money that came out of your pay and came back as pension after 60. Turns out it doesn't quite work that way. Your super fund uses your money to make investments in the share market. Depending on your fund, you may win or lose. Some super funds invest in high-risk stock. It pays to do some homework on your fund, and to give them a call and find out exactly what it is they are doing with your money. With some super funds, it is possible to manage your own investment. What I mean by this is that some funds allow you to have some flexibility in the shares that your super is invested in. This can be pretty risky, and should not be entered lightly. That being said, it gives you control over your own money, and, if you are entrepreneurial enough, do your research and excercise a little foresight you can do well.
Quite alot of people have super left over from various jobs in separate super accounts. This is bad news, as super accounts charge fees. Small separate funds get charged fees by each superfund, and your money will get eaten fast. One account, one fee. It will save you money in the long run. This is one of the major ways super funds make money. Through people not paying attention. If you are anything like me, you probably don't know where all your super is, with which funds, and how much. One way to find out is the Super Seeker tool offered by the Australian Tax Office. All you need to know is your Tax File Number, and it will do the looking for you. This finds out if you have any money lost in old super accounts you may not have known about. Here's the link.... http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/33301.htm
Your current super fund, or whichever one you choose to be your primary fund, may even be able to do this for you and consolidate all your super into one account for you. This depends on the fund, but it can't hurt to ask.
The bottom line is not to trust your super fund with your retirement money without doing your homework and keeping an eye on it. Be a rich pensioner, get a sweet campervan.
For more info about super and the logistics of how it all works in more detail, start here....
http://www.understandingmoney.gov.au/content/consumer/financialliteracy/superannuation/
(Courtesy of The Australian Gov't).
Spare a thought for those in the floods.
Quite alot of people have super left over from various jobs in separate super accounts. This is bad news, as super accounts charge fees. Small separate funds get charged fees by each superfund, and your money will get eaten fast. One account, one fee. It will save you money in the long run. This is one of the major ways super funds make money. Through people not paying attention. If you are anything like me, you probably don't know where all your super is, with which funds, and how much. One way to find out is the Super Seeker tool offered by the Australian Tax Office. All you need to know is your Tax File Number, and it will do the looking for you. This finds out if you have any money lost in old super accounts you may not have known about. Here's the link.... http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.asp?doc=/content/33301.htm
Your current super fund, or whichever one you choose to be your primary fund, may even be able to do this for you and consolidate all your super into one account for you. This depends on the fund, but it can't hurt to ask.
The bottom line is not to trust your super fund with your retirement money without doing your homework and keeping an eye on it. Be a rich pensioner, get a sweet campervan.
For more info about super and the logistics of how it all works in more detail, start here....
http://www.understandingmoney.gov.au/content/consumer/financialliteracy/superannuation/
(Courtesy of The Australian Gov't).
Spare a thought for those in the floods.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Shopping for Dummies
These days, as everything gets more expensive and we have less money to play with, it is growing more and more difficult to buy Australian made products and support local industry. This problem is compounded by the dominance of the cheaper goods available at chain stores like Coles and Woolworths. These two megacorporations, while they are for the most part Australian owned, make no less than 100 billion dollars in revenue between them each year, and through this money they are able to expand and expand, effectively crushing small businesses and potential competitors out of the market. Within the stores themselves, they offer store-brand goods for as cheap as possible, therefore outselling the local-owned goods on display. It is impossible for Aussie producers to compete in terms of price.
In terms of quality, it is a different story. Many of the el-cheapo Coles and Woolworths brand goods are of low quality, produced overseas and often loaded with preservatives. Their fruit, veges and meat are usually of average or even quite poor quality, especially when compared to virtually any grocer or butcher. This is due to quite a few factors, but possibly most notably the fact that all this meat, fruit and vegetables are kept in cold storage for extended periods, sometimes for periods of over one year. So much for the "Fresh Food People". If freshness and quality is of any importance to you, go visit your local greengrocer or butcher. Chances are whatever you wish to buy will be no more expensive and of far better quality.Perhaps most importantly you will be supporting local industry and business. You will be doing your bit to ensure that these small, local run companies continue to survive in the face of Woolworths and Coles market dominance.
(Update) - I've just been made aware of http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/ . These guys do it better, fresher and 100% Australian, and deliver food TO YOUR DOOR at no extra cost! Fruit & Veg, Meat, Bread, Milk, the works! Cheer to My old bud Myran for the link http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/
Please buy Australian made and please support small business. I know that in these difficult economic times it is much easier to buy cheaper imported goods, but it is important to keep our economy as strong as possible by not throwing all of our money into the coffers of massive corporations, instead try to give our farmers, manufacturers and producers support by buying Australian made and owned. It's important. The same goes for everything, whether it be tools (Bunnings is owned by Coles Group also) or furniture or fishing gear, think about what you are buying.
For more information about just how extensive and damaging these companies are, spare a couple of minutes to watch this video, from ABC's Hungry Beast program from last year. Click the link. Do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQMOyGeP_I
further reading, courtesy of the Australian Financial Review site... BOOM!
http://afr.com/tags;jsessionid=1FADA78E0039D0DBC1BA9D75BA1D6453?tag=C_COLES%20GROUP%20LIMITED-CGJ
http://afr.com/tags?tag=C_WOOLWORTHS%20LIMITED-WOW
In terms of quality, it is a different story. Many of the el-cheapo Coles and Woolworths brand goods are of low quality, produced overseas and often loaded with preservatives. Their fruit, veges and meat are usually of average or even quite poor quality, especially when compared to virtually any grocer or butcher. This is due to quite a few factors, but possibly most notably the fact that all this meat, fruit and vegetables are kept in cold storage for extended periods, sometimes for periods of over one year. So much for the "Fresh Food People". If freshness and quality is of any importance to you, go visit your local greengrocer or butcher. Chances are whatever you wish to buy will be no more expensive and of far better quality.Perhaps most importantly you will be supporting local industry and business. You will be doing your bit to ensure that these small, local run companies continue to survive in the face of Woolworths and Coles market dominance.
(Update) - I've just been made aware of http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/ . These guys do it better, fresher and 100% Australian, and deliver food TO YOUR DOOR at no extra cost! Fruit & Veg, Meat, Bread, Milk, the works! Cheer to My old bud Myran for the link http://www.aussiefarmers.com.au/
Please buy Australian made and please support small business. I know that in these difficult economic times it is much easier to buy cheaper imported goods, but it is important to keep our economy as strong as possible by not throwing all of our money into the coffers of massive corporations, instead try to give our farmers, manufacturers and producers support by buying Australian made and owned. It's important. The same goes for everything, whether it be tools (Bunnings is owned by Coles Group also) or furniture or fishing gear, think about what you are buying.
For more information about just how extensive and damaging these companies are, spare a couple of minutes to watch this video, from ABC's Hungry Beast program from last year. Click the link. Do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQMOyGeP_I
further reading, courtesy of the Australian Financial Review site... BOOM!
http://afr.com/tags;jsessionid=1FADA78E0039D0DBC1BA9D75BA1D6453?tag=C_COLES%20GROUP%20LIMITED-CGJ
http://afr.com/tags?tag=C_WOOLWORTHS%20LIMITED-WOW
Monday, January 3, 2011
Welcome
Hey people, I've decided to bring the new year in with a new blog. This one will be a more serious affair. I'll be tending more to real issues both locally and globally and a few ideas and speculations on things. I've got a few ideas about what is really going on here on Planet Earth and I see this as a way of spreading some information and getting us all talking about change. Expect rants, opinions, truth and new ideas. That's the idea anyway. I'll try also to give you some links and stuff so you can do your own research and thinking too.
Anyways, I might get this show on the road with a video. If you've got a spare hour or two give it a watch. It will give you a fair idea of whats going on up there at the top of the food chain and behind the scenes. Pretty scary stuff but the game's not over yet. Anyways give it a watch and make up your own mind. I'll be talking about some of the issues discussed here in the future, among other things you don't really hear much about in the mainstream media. World News with a Jimbo twist. Let's see how we go. Stay tuned!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912#
(Just follow the link above. May seem at first like conspiracy-theory crap, and it's American also, but the information is relevant and legit so give it a shot, and like I said make up your own mind. I'm not sold on a a few things towards the end, but anywho on with the show...
Anyways, I might get this show on the road with a video. If you've got a spare hour or two give it a watch. It will give you a fair idea of whats going on up there at the top of the food chain and behind the scenes. Pretty scary stuff but the game's not over yet. Anyways give it a watch and make up your own mind. I'll be talking about some of the issues discussed here in the future, among other things you don't really hear much about in the mainstream media. World News with a Jimbo twist. Let's see how we go. Stay tuned!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7065205277695921912#
(Just follow the link above. May seem at first like conspiracy-theory crap, and it's American also, but the information is relevant and legit so give it a shot, and like I said make up your own mind. I'm not sold on a a few things towards the end, but anywho on with the show...
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