Amyee's 2 Cents

'Repair' is no longer economically viable

2012-01-13T14:32:00.000+11:00

I have a laptop, bought three years ago for $500 from duty free. It is a great little laptop, and works very well with my travelling life. It is healthy, well taken care of, so I am certain it'll stay with me for at least another three years.

However on our last trip, I accidentally cracked the LCD screen. So it now need to be repaired.
The first quote I got is from the university computer repair store. $220 to replace the screen and for the workmanship.

Thinking that Asus as a company themselves might be able to do it for cheaper, I called their service centre and I was told that the minimum charge for the service is $165, and the screen will be "several hundred" on top of that.

So that got me thinking. Really? If it cost them so much to sell the laptop, considering the cost of the screen was part of the price, does it really cost that much to have something replaced?

Or is it the economical influence of a society that favours 'brand new' things that have put these repairing businesses in a position where they need to charge more to stay in business?

I am a believer that if something still works, and there is no real practical reason why a brand new item need to be purchased, then I will repair it and keep using it as it will be one less item in the landfill. In a world where we are throwing away too much, putting too much in the rubbish bin, you'd think that they would be encouraging you to re-use rather than replace. In a world where we spend so much money on campaigning for the environment and conservation, you'd think that they would make repairing an existing item cheaper so that we don't keep throwing things away adding to the pile we already have got to deal with?

Of course, I forget that there is a corporate world out there that needs to make money to keep the economy going, and that means to encourage consumers to buy more and spend more, so that more people can be employed and more dollars can be circulated.

It's a vicious cycle, a contradictory world we live in.

Will someone think of the children!?

Bali - the only thing wrong with it is us

2011-08-02T12:56:00.000+10:00

Bali has been greatly mis-understood as a destination, and in the recent years fears of more attacks on tourists have stopped people (at least Australians) from visiting this paradise.

The Balinese are a peaceful bunch of devote Hindus. They love tourists and they love having guests. Their laid back way of life may mean things happen a little slower than usual (it may have taken 30 mins for your Nasi Goreng to arrive) but it's not like you are rushing to anywhere when you are on holidays.

In fact, having just came back from a trip to Bali, I am afraid to say that there is nothing wrong with Bali itself - the only things that are wrong are the people visiting it - mainly the Australians.

Australians are fine at home. We follow rules, we are polite and mostly friendly and we are clean. We would never think of making a fool of ourselves in public and look down on people who do. However it seems that when we are overseas, especially in Bali, we have the urge to do everything that we wouldn't otherwise do at home, even if it's also illegal or not acceptable in Bali as well.

Of all the years of travelling I have already been proud to announce that I am Australian. You get better service in Europe if you announce you are from Australia (mainly because they hate Americans and continental Europe also have a thing about the English) and Australians are equally loved by people in Asia and the Americas. However it is here in Bali that I feel almost embarrassed to declare my nationality simply because it is associated with loud drunkenness, the occasional rant of arrogance (by shouting the Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi chorus), and blatant rudeness to local people.

Tourists in general contribute to the pollution of the streets of the beaches and majority of the island's beer consumption - however with 80% of the tourists being Australians it is hard to escape the blame.

The boganism - is it just me or the entire Kuta/ Legian area are just full of them? Entire family wearing the Bintang wife-beaters (singlets) and being culturally insensitive to the locals when there is a ceremony happening - c'mon people we are better than that! I hear people trying to ask a question in English really quickly, then get angry/upset that the local person does not understand them and rudely walk off - has it not occurred to them that perhaps by speaking a bit slower, and change the sentence structure of little may help? It's not like we appreciate the French coming to Australia expecting us to understand French, and like-wise with all other countries whose language isn't English. Why do you think someone else would appreciate us expecting to understand everything we say? (Especially when the Australian lingo isn't the most proper English there is out there) Other things include littering on their beaches, not picking up after your dog (this is more about those who ended up living in Bali for a while) and not saying thank you when a hotel staff has done you a favour.... you wouldn't do these at home - why do it overseas?

Oh, and "Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi" was fun during the 2000 Olympics and may even have been just slightly after that - but people, it's been more than ten years - find something else to identify ourselves shall we?

Thankfully there are places in Bali you can escape all of these chaos. Simply head inland or over to the east coast where nicer beaches are. For some reason, Aussies don't go there in bulk numbers and those who are there are of different qualities than those found in Kuta.

Don't mis-understand Bali - don't ruin it for others either.

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Just my 2 cents

In response to Australian government's carbon tax announcement

2011-07-10T19:48:00.002+10:00

It's been debated and argued over for the past few months, the Australian government has finally come out with the details of the proposed carbon tax. Not just in parliament, this topic has also divided the rest of Australia, with majority of the 'older' generation opposing the tax, and majority of the 'younger' generation agreeing with the tax. It has not been a great topic at the family dinner table.

Today, the details are finally released. As it seems, the government is estimating that households will be paying approximately 10 dollars extra per week due to the carbon tax. Figures of how much grocery items may increase by have also been told - they reckon prices of grocery items will rise by 5%.

Figures sound scary doesn't it? 5%? That's like, just below the average mortgage rate. To the average citizen, this does sound like a lot of money, especially compared to the dreaded mortgage. However, if you think about it, 5% of a loaf of bread (say, the nice ones that cost $4 per loaf) is 20cents. 20 cents is not going to break anyone's budget is it? Say the estimate of $10 extra a week for households is true - that's about 3 cups of coffee a week. I am sure we can all live with 3 less coffees a week, we can't however, live without earth, at all. Also, think about all the times when we think to ourselves "gees, where did I spend my money?" I mean, really, we spend a lot of money on a lot of crap, most of the time we don't even remember it. $8 a week compared to that $80 pair of shoes you bought last year which you have never worn - that's hardly nothing.

Everyone is jumping up and down over the price it's going to cost Australian families. Those who oppose the tax doesn't think about the actual cost to the family of future generations when the environment is all over the place and no one is doing anything about it. While skeptics have their reasons to believe climate change isn't really happening, that the changes in today's climate is a natural cycle of nature - there is still no doubt that the environment is ruined and there is a lot more pollution causing an increase in health problems in the world. At the rate we are going, even if the climate don't change, the amount of pollution in the atmosphere is eventually going to make 'fresh air' a thing of the past.

Ok I suppose those of you who are going to die in the next 50 years probably don't care. Why should you when you've had your share of a clean world, and that you won't have to live in a world when everyone is forced to wear gas masks?

Some people say why should we do it when some of the major world powers are not also attempting it? China and the US are two countries that have dismissed the warning of climate change and refuse to do anything about it despite the fact that they are one of the two most polluted countries in the world. Well - maybe it's time we take the lead, maybe it's time for Australia to stop 'following' and start leading. Most EU affiliated countries have some form of environmental tax, and most of them are using more renewable energy than we are, even though, we live in a country where there are plenty of sources of renewable energy.

Moreover, while we all complain that we are already paying too much for everything, we now already know how much the prices are going to increase. Should the increase be more than the said amounts, then we know it's not the government's fault. Merchants have always been known to 'pass on the cost' with a little extra for the revenue. Most of the time, the price increases are caused by the greedy merchants using the taxes as opportunity to gain more income while passing on moral panic on the cost to the households. This was evident when the world introduced the fuel surcharge in the travel industry, as a result Qantas increased their fare prices by 15% while complaining the operational cost of the airline has become a burden to the airline. However, during that year, they also reported a 25% increase in revenue than the year before. How is that then possible if they are burdened by the so called 'fuel surcharge'? Well, we all know the answer.

In conclusion, while it will cost us a bit more, it really isn't going to bankrupt any household if the retailers and merchants do not use this opportunity to increase their prices further. Even if it's not for climate change, it's time to make those industries that pollute the most, pay for their irresponsible actions against the natural environment. There are plenty of companies out there that are investing into cleaner sources of energy for their operations and we should be encouraging that.

As for those people agreeing with the need for action but not really sure whether the government has planned it all well - well, since it's a relatively new concept, and Australia will be one of the first non-European country to introduce something of the sort, it's going to need to be changed and adjusted along the way. It's only natural that the first time is never going to be perfect. As long as this tax gets reviewed regularly and any irregularities and errors are changed - I am going to support it.

http://www.garnautreview.org.au/
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Just my 2 cents

Go Back to Where You Came From - SBS - refugee awareness

2011-06-29T10:20:00.001+10:00

A couple of weeks ago it was World Refugee Day. It is suppose to be raising awareness of the refugee problem and to give people the chance to learn more about the issues surrounding the conditions some of the refugees are kept in.

In Australia, there has been strong debates (mostly against) about the boat people and our accommodation of refugees from Asian and Middle East. To say those who have no tolerance are racist probably isn't all that fair, as it's mostly because people don't understand why they are forced to watch people from other countries coming in here, using our resources and tax dollars without having to work.

Well, that's how it seems to them. The news reports don't help either, as the news only report on the number of 'boat people' coming through and the riots caused by them on Christmas Island. To a lot of Australians, these refugees are nothing but trouble makers and they should stay where they came from.

That's the point of view that started SBS's mini-series Go Back To Where You Came From - a show that follows six ordinary Australians (with various views on this issue) tracing back to where refugees came from, and there has been mixed responses on this show.

Here is mine:

I had missed the Response show but I did watch the main feature. To be honest as a way of raising awareness of the problems in the world it was very effective, but I am afraid that the show wouldn't have had the impact it intended to Australians because:
a). as much as it is very touching to see ordinary people on telly and learning what being a refugee is like, it is still just a show. Too many people watch TV without thinking further than the program and they'll just turn it off and go on with their daily lives.
b). those who don't care and have low tolerance of world issues/refugees etc wouldn't have been watching SBS in the first place. They'd probably be watching A Current Affairs and Today Tonight and learn that refugees are taking over our lives (etc etc) instead.
c). Those who have never been there, seen it and experienced it will never understand the actual hardship of what drives people to become refugees. This goes along the same principle of people who are racist only because they've never left their comfort zone and actually gone out and seen different parts of the world. Watching a program (even if they did watch SBS) doesn't change someone's mind - heck, it didn't change the show's participant - Darren's - mind about boat people even being in the program.

Another thing, is the credibility of the show. Being a Media Studies graduate, it is important to take this into account. I do generally believe the reports on SBS more than any other channel however, any show need to be edited, and we do not know what was edited out and whether the words spoken, scenes shot, where used in the correct context. I am in no way accusing SBS for being biased, nor am I saying they are completely credible, I am just saying, people do have strong doubts on media reports and this influence their views on issues raised. For stubborn people who refuse to change their point of view, this is a completely valid point to be using to reject any ideas that may have been presented by the show.

All in all, refugees aren't the problems - the roots of the problems come from where they come from. No man and woman would chose to leave their home to go somewhere where they know they are not welcome, but if it means saving their lives then they will choose to be refugees. The rest of the world, like Australia for example, may also have our own problems to deal with but as part of being a global citizen, it is also our job - especially that we have signed the UN refugee agreement - to take care of those who have no country to go back to. Yes, they should all come via the legal means, to go through the proper refugee process, but if the process will take three months, and I know I might die tomorrow, then I would jump on that boat too. Either way, the risk is to die - wouldn't you also choose the option where you may have a glimpse of hope to survive?

Click here to watch the show online, and share your thoughts too.

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Just my 2 cents

Driving each other nuts - the ultimate relationship test

2011-03-14T12:31:00.001+11:00

I was gripping to my seat, trying to keep my mouth shut as my husband abruptly brings the car to a stop.

“You need to turn a little more when you reverse” I said calmly, despite my sweaty palms and bumping heart. He looks at me, slightly fed up.

“Now do it again.”

I am not being a back seat driver. I am just teaching him how to drive. It’s astonishing how he can get out of not driving for the past ten years in Sydney, I guess that’s one bonus for always living close to your families. However he’s finally decided it was time to get his license, so I bring out my nerves of steel so take him around the block.

They say, all relationships will go through periods of hardship, and it is through the hardship that it either bonds or breaks the relationships. We have been through 5 weeks without shower together (living in a community in Peru) – having worked together, lived together, been through financial troubles together – I thought we had it all worked out: until, he decided to learn to drive.

After five driving lessons with the ‘professional’ teachers, he thought we’d save some money by me supervising him. I am sure all dads/mums/siblings/grandparents/friends would agree that teaching someone how to drive requires more than just knowledge: it requires constraint, tolerance, nerves and patience – something that sometimes we don’t do so well when we are with our spouses.

Having said that, three months later, our relationship is just as strong. I guess some couples just have it.

Good luck darling.

Just my 2 cents.

Why I still don't have an iPhone

2011-01-28T10:39:00.000+11:00

More than 50% of the people in our office, at the train station, at the airport and anywhere I seem to go - they are all using iPhones. They chat and laugh and play away, enjoying having the convenience of having everything in the palm of their hands.

I still don't have one. My sister thinks I am just weird.

Well, there are many reasons why I still don't have an iPhone, but put simply, I just don't believe in them.

I work in technology, I know that technology when put to good use can enhance people's lives. I just don't think the iPhone does it. Rather I think it makes people lazy, anti-social and just plain annoying.

Last night at dinner, Dad had mentioned that we all should get iPhones so that we can be more connected as a family. Connected as a family? What's wrong with a phone call to say hi, and meet up for lunch/dinner and have a good old family time?

My sister also mentioned that I shouldn't resist, because eventually we'll all be forced to use things like the iPhone. Well, until that time, I am quite happy with my phone that is just a phone thank you very much.

In response to the responses to Amy Chua

2011-01-24T16:21:00.000+11:00

It’s been a week now and the responses are coming through like hot cakes. Amy Chua is being internationally condemned for her parenting methods that she call ‘Chinese’. Considering she was born in the US, I found it surprising that she has adapted to the extreme style that is, stereotypically Asian.
While I don’t agree one need to be so extreme on the method of teaching children, personally, I take a more neutral stance. I don’t condemn her, as if she feel that works the best for her family, then let her be. All these people saying that she should be locked up and her children taken away from her is going just as far as she is saying we should all make our children practice the piano until their fingers bleed. There has to be a line drawn somewhere and I feel in today’s society, this line is getting too close to simply just letting our children do whatever the heck they want.

Of course, you are going to ask if I have children of my own, and if not, who the heck do I think I am talking about parenting? Well, having grown up being on the receiving end of Amy Chua’s parenting style, and now having a few nieces and nephews to care for, I do know enough to know what I will do with my own children when we eventually have them.

Firstly, while Amy Chua’s methods are a little farfetched, I think there has to be some form of discipline training. Children are starting to know their ‘rights’ and threaten to ‘report to the authorities’ should the parents and teachers try to give them a little smack. These kids are now rude, and inconsiderate, and know just how they can get away with absolutely anything.

C’mon. Which one of us weren’t smacked when we were young? And we turned out just fine. And I bet there are always moments when we look back to our childhood and wish that her parents had bothered to push us just a little bit more when it comes to studying harder to achieve our dreams. We all hated it at the time too!
Children should be given the opportunity to choose what they want, but they also need to know the choices to begin with, and learn that they need a reason for their choices. “Because I want to” isn’t a valid choice. They need to learn that life is tougher than that.

Secondly, Amy Chua was merely pointing out that children sometimes need to be pushed to know they can enjoy something when they are good at it, and sometimes, just because they are impatient while they are learning, it does not mean they really do hate it. And denying children of the things that everyone else take for granted like TV, video games and sleep overs? Well, in Year 12 I wasn’t allowed any of these, and instead of hate my aunt for it (I was brought up by my mother’s sister) I now appreciate it. That year as taught me there are a lot more things I can do to amuse myself besides spending hours in front of the TV. I read books, which enriched my general knowledge; I got on the phone and chatted to my friends and I wrote letters (this is when e-mail wasn’t as common place just yet) and I now value having a TV. I always wondered at those children who has everything and are allowed to do anything: what are they going to look forward to, or value, when they grow up?

Thirdly – before you jump into any conclusions – this article that was published in the NY Times was an excerpt of her upcoming book. She has stated that it “did not reflect the full arc of her story”. [Read – Retreat of the Tiger Mom]

There is no right and wrong in parenting. All these 'you must respect your children' and 'let them be free' methods can only work on some, but not on those who are simply just little shits. No one wants to admit that they are bad parents, but it's like management, you need to consider their personalities first before you decide how to best treat them.

The retailers rant: blaming GST for expensive goods

2011-01-09T13:39:00.000+11:00

I came across a full page advertising from a group of retailers in the papers today, addressed to the consumers and blaming the government's GST for the high prices they must charge, which is resulting in more consumers going online to purchase goods from overseas for a cheaper rate.

I am going to have to say that Australian retail has always been more expensive than a lot of the other countries (besides Japan) and blaming the GST is simply just a ploy to turn the tide away from themselves. Instead of lowering their profit margin, they choose to blame someone else.

Firstly - the GST is 10%. Take the example of a Sony camera from Harvey Norman. Say it cost AU$500, which means the GST component of it should be around AU$50. The exact same camera, bought in the US, may cost US$380. In today's exchange rate, it would mean the Australian consumer would save AU$120 by purchasing it from a US based website. If GST is solely to blame, the difference should have been only $50.

Secondly - The Australian retail section is notorious in their price mark ups. Thers is an average of a 300% mark up on luxury goods, and in comparison to many other countries with more compeition, this is just outragous.

Thirdly - The current trend of going online for shopping is because of the high Australian dollar (as well as cheaper prices) NOT because of the GST. Why bring up an old fight just to get away from their high prices?

Fourthly - they claim that Australian businesses who sell to overseas via online gets charged by that country's taxes - this is not true. Only those businesses who choose to set up a purchase website based in the country of their target will be applicable to local taxes. There is no stopping anyone from going directly to a specific country's website and purchase an international order and pay international postage costs (So purchasing from a www.purcahse.com.au rather than www.purchase.co.uk of the same company). There is no way of governing this to be able to charge the taxes.

I am all for suporting our own economy, but if certain companies are going to be stubborn and refuse to admit they are being the sharks of the businesses and pricing goods at high mark ups, I'll be going online to purchase my goods and will be avoiding those companies part of this campaign. It is their own doing.

So far, so good

2010-10-05T12:16:00.001+11:00

I did say I just wasn’t too sure about the Commonwealth Games, but after a spectacular opening ceremony on Sunday and watching the progressing events in the past two days, it’s been a pleasant surprise. The venues look fine, the games are going on just ok, and so far, no major security threats have been reported.

I do though, worry about the empty seats. Athletes are completing in near empty stadiums, with no one to cheer them on at the moment. Australia has won three gold medals so far (as far as I know) but we are lacking the excitement about it in comparison to the Olympic games. While international travellers are weary about attending the games, could it be that the locals can’t come and share a bit of the glory because they can’t afford the tickets?

Hosting a major sporting event is a great chance for any nation to unite its citizens, clean up its act and possibly benefit economically. However if people are prevented from joining the fun, it may have the opposite effect.

I await the statistics and the full review on the games at the end of it. And I sincerely hope that it had been great for India and its people.

Just my 2 cents.

The Commonwealth Games - Delhi

2010-09-28T10:11:00.000+10:00

There has been much MUCH talk about the Commonwealth Games that is about to happen in Delhi, which made me feel I should perhaps write something about it too.

Many criticise the decision to give India the chance to hold the games. For a country troubled by terrorism, hygene issues, poverty, political unrest and stray monkeys, it really didn't make sense to think they would clean up their act in the mean time just for the games.

However it was the same hope they had when South Africa was granted the permission to hold the World Cup that organisers wanted India to have this chance to redeem themselves, to give them a chance to show the world they could do it and perhaps even help the country in terms of unity, prosperity (in small cases) and hope.

Instead, it brought trouble. The games venues are not ready, the villages are plagued by bed bugs and stray cobras and children and women are put on labour to try to finish the structures in time.

How the games organisers didn't realise earlier that India is simply not ready for the job is beyond me. When nothing is ready six month ago, alarm bells should have rang, and the games should have been relocated to a nearby country that already has the infrastructure in place (like.. Australia?) and give India another eight years to get their acts together so at least, by then, the beds might hold when someone try to sleep in them.

Then there are experts saying that if we pull out now, the terrorists win.
But do we risk the lives of our local sporting heros just to make a point? In the end, even if the terrorists don't win, the stray dogs/cats/cobras/monkeys will.

I wanted to believe, but now, I am not so sure.
Just my 2 cents.

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Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games official website
Monkey business: handlers take on unwanted guests - smh.com.au
Delhi Commonwealth Games village 'in filthy state' - bbc.co.uk

Oprah to come to the Opera

2010-09-15T13:12:00.003+10:00

It’s all over the news, both in the USA and here, that popular US talk show host Oprah is bringing her audiences to Australia.

Tourism Australia, in conjunction with NSW government, are thrilled to be spending three million of tax payers money to bring this show on the road.

Oprah’s Oz Trip a ‘major coup’ – ABC.net.au

There has been many public criticism since the announcement, that tax payer’s money are being wasted to satisfy one talk show, and for a personality like Oprah, who can afford her own way (and all of her audiences’ way too) should really be paying for themselves.

However, experts say this is actually a good thing. Considering that Tourism Australia has previously spent millions in the two failed attempts at drawing the international attention (with ‘Where the Bloody Hell are Ya’ and ‘Nothing Like Australia’ campaigns), this is the perfect chance to woo 300 ordinary foreigners to be walking billboards for us.

I can see the point. It really is a great idea. They say no advertising is more powerful than word of mouth advertising. People rather listen to someone they can relate to say good things about something, than believe what the tv or the magazine advertisement says.

I just have few issues about this plan. Oprah has said that their trip will take them on a sail around Sydney Harbour, sample some great Aussie wine (possibly Hunter Valley), shop in Melbourne and see the Great Barrier Reef. All this in 7 days. This means:

They are hardly going to have enough time to really enjoy this trip
They have concentrated on the urban/ business areas of Australia, not the real beautiful and cultural Australia we really want them to see.
They possibly could be extremely impressed with the harbour and the wine (I’ve tasted wine from the US, ours is definitely better) but shopping in Melbourne? Hello? Have you been shopping in the US? They are going to be utterly disappointed.

Nevertheless, I hope it works. With Tourism Australia struggling to lure international visitors, if this doesn’t work, then it’s obvious Australia is no longer the world’s ‘dream destination’.

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Just my 2 cents

Oprah’s official website
Tourism Australia

We are all boiling over for a TV character

2010-09-14T11:58:00.000+10:00

There has been much debate in the recent weeks about the revalation of the man behind The Stig from popular TV motoring show, Tow Gear.

So it seems that after seven years working behind the scenes, of being anonymous and being completely silent about his role with Top Gear, Ben Collins has decided to take off his helmet to let the world know who he is.

This is a surprising move that had stunned both BBC and the presenters of the show, and Collins has since been sacked from his job.

I can understand why the show's management would be a bit upset about this, as the mysterious identity which The Stig has been was one of the highlights of the show, and now, they are going to have to find a new character to fill his shoes.

What I don't understand is how the general public could feel so angry about this. While watching the program we all know The Stig has to be somebody. Somebody with a name. Please don't tell me you believe this guy was actually some sort of alien born with his white suit and helmet on and born to race? Whether we know or do not know the real identity of The Stig, it is just another character on a TV program. It's like watching a soap opera where the actors change all the time, and yet we still identify them by their characters not their real names. What of The Doctor from Doctor Who? We all know who they are in real life, but when we are watching the show, it is who they are in the show that matter.

Especially when the other Stigs were already revealed back in 2009: it didn't affect your enjoyment of the show then, why now?

The Stig unmasked: Top Gear's four different test drivers

There are people out there trying to boycott Ben Collin's book about his life behind the mask. If you had a job where you needed to hide your identity for seven years, I bet you would've done it too. Think about it this way: if he had just quitted without saying anything, then we wouldn't have noticed the change in driver behind The Stig, what difference does it make now that we know who it was behind that mask, and knowing they'll get a new person to fill the role soon?

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Just my 2 cents

The Stig | Stig speaks out about secret life - SMH.com.au
Top Gear: The Stig's been sacked says Jeremy Clarkson - dailytelegraph.com.au

Respect is up in the smokes

2010-09-13T09:24:00.001+10:00

It shouldn’t be a laughable matter. When news came that a lawyer from Queensland decided to use pages of the Quran and the Bible to smoke pot (or it could just be grass cut from the university campus), I couldn’t help but share a giggle.

However, I understand the issue is beyond the fact it was only paper wasted.

Sure, a book is a book, and for a world that values free speech, if he wanted to burn a book, he should potentially have the right to do whatever he liked.

However, the books he chose happens to be the books that have been the centre of most religious conflicts in the past and the present (and no doubt the future too), and are the two most sensitive literature subjects we have, and holds great value in many people’s hearts. It is absolutely disrespectful of not only the religion, but also those who believe in it.

I am not religious either, but the act of disrespect should not be practiced, it is just not the way of our multi-cultural, multi-faith society.

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Just my 2 cents

News item: Queensland Lawyer Alex Stewart smokes pages from the Koran and Bible

Sporting Sponsorships

2010-09-12T08:38:00.000+10:00

Sports people are heros for parts of our society. They are role models for our future generation, and the pride of our community. However sometimes things get a little over board with the ego, and with the strings that come with it, mainly from the sponsors.

Sports people are always going to have an ego too big for themselvs. That can't be helped. But sponsorship companies need to come down from their high clouds a bit.

I understand the importance of sponsorships. When sport was just like art and music, when people played for a passion rather than money, when they have one team shirt for the entire career, not one for each season, when we are not bombarded with advertising and egoistic corporate companies thinking we'll buy their product - Sport used to be fun.

How wrong it is that Fast Food giants MacDonalds and KFC are sponsoring sport, the very thing that should be promoting healthy and fresh eating?

Then there are technology companies, airlines, insurance companies and many others, some go as far as sponsoring teams outside their own parent countries to get that little bit of public exposure.

Do they seriously care about these sport people? No. All they care about is money rolling in from the spectators.

Not only does it affect the enjoyment of us watching the sport, by constantly being bombarded with advertising of things we do not like, it affects those working for the companies too. What if you don't like the team your company sponsors? I do know a real case of employees getting in trouble for expressing their point of view on the social sphere (without naming the company themselves) and got in trouble for it. What's with the ego? What happened to freedom of selection (of teams) and speech?

If a compay is to sponsor, then show that they actually do care for the sport, not just as an opportunity to advertise and look all the important in the corporate box. Don't go high and mighty thinking that we, the audience, will automatically think you great just because you sponsor a sport.

Ode to the Loss of Faith (Sep 11.)

2010-09-11T18:19:00.002+10:00

-also published on Associated Content:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5790936/ode_to_the_loss_of_faith.html?cat=42

The tears don't stop coming
The families don't stop hating
The ground, cold and still bare
A reminder of a past torn by pain

Stories come and go
Truth from the victims will never be told
Leaving the rest to speculate
And point their fingers at those to blame
The world of today torn by hate

It is in the faith that we seek
Revenge for those whose heart still bleed

Christians, Muslims and Hindus alike
With even more faiths our world relies
Have lost someone up there in plight
One small rumour run
We lose faith in all faiths aside

Pity those fighting for a cause
Directions blurred by others' agendas unknown
Our countries fight and more victims die
Ode to the loss of faith, yours and mine

International Pastor Terry Jones Day

2010-09-10T09:15:00.001+10:00

So. Pastor Terry Jones has called off his so called International Quran Burning Day. He has some sense afterall.

Or does he?

After weeks of criticism from all around the world, making Pastor Terry Jones' campaign to burn Qurans to become a worldwide campaign of International We-Hate-Terry-Jones-Day, the Florida pastor claims that his decision was made based on an agreement between himself and those in charge of builing the Mosque in New York that the Mosque will be relocated to a less sensitive area.

There is currently no other confirmation of the Mosque relocation from anyone else.

Did he call it off because he actually sees reason, or was it for other reasons he can't control? Here are some of my speculations:

Perhaps the RSVP's for the event didn't turn out so well. Afterall, his church has only 50 memebers. To make it an International event, you would at least expect maybe... 100? 1000? Won't be so spectacular with only two or three people milling around a large courtyard would it?

Perhaps they ran out of Qurans. Maybe the shop only had a few in stock, and he would have to wait two weeks for more to be shipped in from Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps in his spare time while waiting for the actual day to come, that he actually read the Quran and decided to convert, but is too chicken to admit so to the media.

Or perhaps he wants more friends on Facebook.

Also, about his claim that he has secured an agreement to relocate the New York Mosque. Is it possible that within a day of him saying he was still going ahead with the plan of burning the Qurans, that either himself, or the organisers of the Mosque in New York have flown into each other's states to meet in person, and within a couple of hours have resolved an issue that weeks and weeks of protests and negotiations couldn't conclude?

The fact that there are currently no other official statement being made about this is another rat in the closet.

It's possible he dreamt it all.

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Just my 2 cents

Pastor Terry Jones is of the Devil

2010-09-09T11:25:00.001+10:00

What's this? Burn a Quran day?
Only an idiot would think of such an event.
Oh wait - yes, it's been confirmed - Pastor Terry Jones is an idiot.

In an act of wanting media attention, and on the eve of one of the days that changed the world, he decides to take an extreme stand against Islam.

Did I just say the word 'extreme'?

Pastor Terry Jones is an extremist of the christian faith, so what difference does that make him compare to his Islamic counter parts? By declaring such event to happen is calling for violence, and hence the root of all evil.

He is quoted saying "have you ever really seen a really happy Muslim? As they're on the way to Mecca? As they gather together in the mosque on the floor? Does it look like a real religion of joy?"

Well, to answer your question Pastor - YES. Plenty of them. I work with three of them in fact, and have visited three different Islamic countries. All happy go lucky people, until people like you come along.

Terry Jones, you need to get out and see the world. Educate yourself. Learn.

He obviously take the Sep 11 crisis seriously and heavily blame it on the Islam faith. He said he is doing this "to remember those who were brutally murdered on September 11th" - I don't think he knew exactly what happened on September 11th. Of the people who died, there were also Muslims among them, along with Buddhists, Taoists and Hindus. So just exactly who is he trying to defend?

Not to mention, his actions are completely against what his own faith, supposedly Christianity teaches. Love Thy Enemy. Remember that line?

Although behind all these media hype, I have a feeling he is actually trying to boost the Islamic literature sales. What do you need on a Burn a Quran day? A Quran. Exactly. Those who will be attending this will not be Muslims with a Quran handy to burn so what will they and the church have to do? Buy some Qurans. I can already see the sale of the Quran boosting by 200%. Unless, they want to try to steal them? Oh no, thou shall not steal remember?

Ok, so even if he thinks that we are all going to hell by not supporting his cause... well, you know what? That makes a lot of us. For as many people that supports Pastor Terry Jone's cause on Facebook (because everything is measured by Facebook these days), there are more than twice the number (in various pages) condemning the idea. So I think, hell at that time, there'll be more people there and is going to be a lot more fun than the boring old place he calls heaven.

I think I am going to become a Buddhist.

Oh, and it can't be a International Burn a Koran day if it's only going to happen in a small town, you twat.

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Just my 2 cents

Further reading:
Church plans Quran-burning event - cnn.com
American pastor Terry Jones vows to hold national Koran burning event - news.com.au
Florida pastor not backing down on koran burning - reuters.com
US church defiant despite condemnation of Koran burning - bbc.co.uk

It's Labor (without U)

2010-09-07T15:52:00.000+10:00

By now most of us don’t really care what we voted as long as someone does something!

Finally. We have a government.

Funny how politicians, left right or centre, have a tendency to be ‘swayed’ by popular demand. After Bob Katter announced that he was backing the Coalition, he actually said that he might retract support should the other two independents choose Labor. He obviously didn’t really think much about his preferences then. He does put it down to ‘thinking for the people’ as he didn’t want us to go back to the polls again should the vote counts indicates so. I doubt that was his real intension. I am not so sure about someone who changes their mind just because his friends have other ideas.

Well, at least this issue is sorted out. Hopefully it’s time to get some real work done. (Although knowing them, probably not, they’ll spend the next few weeks trying to ‘thank’ everyone and then the opposition will start any leaks and scandals they can find)

And we are still hung....

2010-09-07T12:08:00.000+10:00

It has been quite a few weeks for Australian politics. Since election day on the 21 August we have been sitting in front of our telly hoping to finally know who is going to govern us for the next three years...
It's been a bit more than 2 weeks now, and we are still waiting on three independents to make up their minds.
Katter says it's the leaders that have to make up their minds, not him - however, media spot light is on the three, whom, one of them was quoted saying they want to try to avoid going to the polls again and that's why their decision is delayed.

Are you anxious?
You know what? I am not. Which ever party governs will not do Australia that much difference at the moment. The governing party will say something and the opposition will always jump at the opportunity to - well - oppose. No matter how good an idea is, they'll never agree because that is what an opposition does.

That's what I have problems with the way it is going. The opposition is suppose to provide an alternative point of view, and alternative solution. However what we are seeing is the opposition saying no to everything, find some scandles to play with and everyone forgets the idea.

And you wonder why Australia is still 10 years behind everyone else.

Hawke: "We are all bloody boat people"

2010-08-13T15:44:00.000+10:00

Federal election is creeping up on the Australians and there has been many debates about what issue worries Australians more, and both major parties are using these issues to try to swing their votes.

One of the issue is immigration, and the so called 'boat people crisis'. Apparently this is a big issue, and apparently Liberal is going to stop it.

Of course. I wake up thinking about boat people. I eat my breakfast and wonder if I'll meet one today. I get to work and worry about my job being taken by boat people, and on the train home, all I can think about is boat people.

NOT.

I do not think this whole immigration issue is a big issue at all. In fact, ask anyone on the streets what their biggest concern is, it's very likely this concern is not going to be about 'the boat people'.

Let's just keep the records straight. There are those genuinely concerned about the refugees policy. Then there are those that are just plain racist and wants to go back to a white Australia.

Let's address both concerns.
Firstly, Australia, compared to the rest of the world, takes in one of the least numbered of refugees per year. The European countries takes in thousands of refugees a year, both legally and illegally. The USA and Canada both have their share of refugee numbers as well. Australia takes in very little refugees yet, we have the most resources and land to be able to re-home them. So why are we complaining?

Yes, we all do prefer that they wait to be 'processed' than come as boat people. But you know what? That's why we detain them. As much as I agree that we should continue to take in refugees, I do also agree that they should be detained (or quarantined, to say it in a slightly nicer way) for a period of time while we check their background.

If you are worried that these people come and take our jobs... then why are you in that position in the first place? Most refugees come and do the jobs we average Australians don't want to do. They work harder than we do, they get paid less than we do, I say it's a better bargain on our end than theirs!

And then, there is that thing about being racist. Ok, I can't cure you if you have the racist condition, but let's just put it this way - no matter how far back you track your ancestory, no one who is not of the native blood can claim they are 'real' Australians. Somewhere down the line, you are, just like what Hawke has said - all bloody boat people anyway. Some of you came on a boat in shackles, some of you came free. MOST of you are from some form of immigrant family, whether it be from Britain or Germany or Lebanon or China, we are ALL in the same boat!

Hawke: We are all bloody boat people - smh.com.au

And before anyone says something is 'un-Australian', think about this very simple theory. Is there a universal definition of what is 'Australian'? If not, then 'un-Australian' cannot even be used. Australian, as what Jan Morris described in one of her essays in A Writer's World, is essentially a "multinational nation". Besides the First Australians, the rest of the country is made up of many many nations. What is Australia is something very special, something that the rest of the world cannot compare to. We have authentic everything, we have the luxury to have bacon and eggs for breakfast, sushi for lunch and pasta for dinner. Yet few people embrace this idea and insist that only those who 'look' Australian can be Australians.

For all I know, the girl you think you are looking at could be just another German backpacker.

The debate, the worm

2010-07-26T12:32:00.001+10:00

The ‘Great’ Debate it was called, a somewhat well-mannered discussion between Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard that was meant to help us citizens to decide which party we would like to govern this country on the 21 August 2010.

They spoke about how much they love Australia. They poked at each other’s leadership styles and how they are going to be a better leader of the governing party should they be elected. Julia Gillard was very cautious about what she could promise while Tony Abbott busied himself with a list why he thinks Labor is a bad government, with no better resolution himself of the issues spoke of.

I also noticed that he doesn’t seem to remember what he promised the Australian people during a radio interview. When asked by Malcolm Farr “Can you remember what policies you would implement in Government specifically referring to groceries, that would keep prices down?”, Abbott’s response was less promising, more dodging: “What we wouldn’t do is promise something called Grocery Watch and then not deliver...” – now do we want someone who has promised and forgot?

Julia wasn’t exactly impressive either. While well dressed, well spoken and better looking (only relative to Tony Abbott), her responses were tame with no edge. On the whole, it was like they said – this debate was boring. The most interesting part was the worm (this time, all three of them on Channel 7!) – can we vote in the worm as our Prime Minister?

Read the transcript of the debate here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/transcript-of-2010-federal-election-debate/story-fn5ko0pw-1225896808486

Just my 2 cents

The perfect Prime Minister sounds like the perfect husband

2010-07-22T13:46:00.000+10:00

I can't do this. While the rest of the world takes politics in all its seriousness, we Australians seem to think it's just fun and games.

The Daily Telegraph is raising the 'perfect PM'. It reports that Peter Best, will be running a campaign based on what the people want. The perfect Prime Minister, according to the report, the "perfect PM is a man who speaks one language, drinks moderately, is university-educated, interested in sport and can cook and change a nappy."

How are cooking and changing nappies useful skills for a leader of a nation?

Sounds like they are picking the perfect husband instead.

And only speaks one language? This is suppose to be a man (as preferred by the poll, rather than woman) who is to represent Australia, meet world leaders and be able to put Australia on the international map? I am sorry, if a PM doesn't at least have an attempt to be able to speak (or partially understand) another language, how do we expect them to be part of the international community?

And promising to do everything everyone wants is unrealistic. This is the beginning of corruption. While one day person A will ask for lower taxes, and the day after person B will want more social benefits. Company A wants to take in more foreign workers and cut local jobs while Company B wants to cut their superannuation rates to save money.

I'll see how the perfect PM can manage to make everyone's wish come true.

Knowing Daily Telegraph, this is probably all a joke. Then again, that's what our politics is all about isn't it? Lots of fun and games and talking, and no action all at.

Just my 2 cents.

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Reference: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/election/hes-the-best-pm-we-could-ever-have/comments-fn5zm695-1225895326762

Australian politics (Politics in general) is ridiculous

2010-06-24T09:43:00.002+10:00

It looks like we have a new prime minister.

He sounded so composed, so promising. Three years ago he was Australia's most popular prime minister. What happened?

According to Peter Van Onselen of The Australian, it's all because of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politics/going-from-hero-to-zero-in-three-years/story-e6frgczf-1225883473309

Yes, it was disappointing that he backed out. What kind of PM gets intimidated and back out of his own policies?

But then again, I blame everyone else around him.

When Lionel Shriver was asked if she was disappointed with Obama at the Sydney Writers Festival this year during the 'We Need to Talk About America' event, she said "I am not disappointed with Obama. I am disappointed with the system he cannot change."

I feel exactly the same thing about Kevin Rudd. He was different. He wanted to make a change to our country. He wanted to disperse the power union system that has dragged Labor down since the between of time.

Yet, it is the exact thing he tried to change that has him on his knees now, begging for forgiveness.

We seem to forget that he is the prime minister that has seen Australia through its tough financial times. The debt Australia has collected through this time is nothing compared to that of Iceland, Greece and the United States of America. We still live comfortably, relatively happily in our lives. He even said sorry, something our previous governments have failed to do, to the stolen generation.

And now, he's down fall is caused by everything he believed in, and those who refuse to change.

I am disappointed that the general public loses faith in him too quickly. I am disappointed that the media scrutinise him so harshly. I am disappointed that the Australian publics is still its inefficient, power hungry, oppose-to-everything-that-isn’t-said-by-me attitude.

You wait. Even though with have a new prime minister, even though everything *thinks* it's going to get better... the same thing will just repeat itself again. Because that is the nature of our politics, and that is the nature of us, when we rely on the opinions of the media too much.

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Just my 2 cents.

I am sorry that Socceroos are out, but we are proud of you anyways

2010-06-24T09:21:00.002+10:00

Although Socceroos won against Serbia in a must win match, due to the goal difference, they have not been able to proceed to the next round.

There are tears and criticism all around, but you know what? It's sport. Someone wins, someone loses. Having qualified for the world cup was already an achievement itself, not every country in the world gets to go. After the first two loses, after knowing that there is more than a probable chance they won't go through the next round, they still fought their last game with a strong will and national pride. What more could we ask of our team?

Yes, we do want to win the World Cup, every team does. But let’s just stop whinging, and look forward to the next one.

Well done boys. See you at home.

http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/brilliant-socceroos-earn-redemption-20100624-yzos.html

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Just my 2 cents

Stop complainig and just pay the tax - Australia's mining tax debacle

2010-06-23T09:55:00.001+10:00

They do make it sound like a debacle, the mining companies. The surge of advertising probing at the government’s proposed tax giving the message that this tax is going to collapse the mining sector of Australia, has been the talk of everybody. The opposition leader is using this chance to fuel the debate on the government’s handling of the economy, the companies are crying poor and apparently all will not end well.

In summary, the government is hoping to introduce a super profits tax in 2012, targeting high earning mining companies for a higher tax rate of up to 40% on their profits. The money raised by thi Sounds scary doesn’t it? Poor things are all threatening job security and investment freeze if the tax goes ahead, which will hurt the average Australian families that work in the sector.

Recently the minerals and energy prices have been increased by around 23 per cent which means these companies are actually earning a lot more than they normally would, and considering they normally earn a profit number into the billions each year, they have been better off than any other business sectors. According to this report, experts are also now predicting this number will hit 202 billion in the 2010-2011 year and is in no danger of slowing down in the year after. Can they afford it? Yes they surely can.

So while there are families struggling to find jobs in the current climate, while number of people who line up to get aid from Salvation Army – these bosses are threatening to take jobs away from people just because the government wishes to take a little more taxes out of them? Oh poor Mr CEO is going to be one million dollar out of pocket out of their multi-million dollar Christmas bonus. He rather risk the job security of the people than to sacrifice that little bit of money. If you consider this situation, who really is being selfish here?

Not to mention, the government’s new tax is based on profit performance, so the more profit a company earns, the more they will pay, and those smaller mining companies will not be affected as much, and in fact may even benefit by paying less tax than before, with this new proposal. That is a good thing. We have just been complaining about all the foreign investments in this country haven’t we? Perhaps it’s time to let the smaller local companies thrive.

Besides, the mining sector is not all that truthful.
Quote - "When Xstrata controversially closed its Windimurra vanadium mine in 2004 it did not disclose, in its media release, the number of jobs lost. It was less reticent in its statement this month. It said 3250 potential new jobs were at risk, and the opportunity to create a further 14,725 might be lost.

The statement also said the proposed tax was responsible for the ''loss of approximately 60 contractor jobs with immediate effect''. Xstrata later conceded they were potential positions yet to be created, but not before it was widely and erroneously reported in the media that existing jobs had been lost." - Sydney Morning Herald: Miners throwing all the dirt they can.

Haven’t we been talking about trying to reduce the rich-poor gap in this country? Haven’t we been wondering how we are going to pay back the debt the country built up during the financial storm? Would it really hurt that much if the company directors don’t get a first class family holiday to the Maldives this Christmas?

Are we really that gullible that we believe the media when it says it’s going to ruin us? Where have I heard that before? Oh yes, every the government try to make a change. This video might entertain you.

We can all sit around to agree or disagree with everything. That is fine. However I do suggest you read and understand the tax before joining one of the bandwagons.
Australia’s Super Profit Mining Tax <- click to read
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Just my 2cents.