Yes it's that time again. What am I going to buy as a gift? Is it going to cost a fortune? Will I have any money left for myself?
It can be stressful, it can also be a joy. Do you need to spend a lot? NO NO NO
Christmas need not be expensive. The whole idea is really to have a break and catch up with family and friends, share a story, share food and drink, enjoy one another's company.
If you must buy a gift make it reasonable, book token, or book, CD, DVD, it doesn't have to be the latest Ferrari.
Get someone started on a new hobby, buy them something to keep them interested on those long winter nights if you live in the Northern hemisphere or something to relax with on the sun lounger if you are South of the Equator.
A piece of silver, old or new, need not be expensive. A guide to hallmarks so the recipient can understand those funny marks stamped into silver goods. Try the hallmarks quiz online, send the link to a friend, they may enjoy testing their knowledge.
A piece of silverware or silver jewelry is sure to last forever and bring back memories for years to come for both the recipient and the giver.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
NZ Government Employs Morons To Produce Report
TRANSPORT REPORT
The Dominion Post published an article about what we should expect in NZ in the near future from what is described as a 'Comprehensive new report'.
Idiotic statements like, 'Motorists should pay more to drive cars - including more expensive car parks, and fees to use roads - if New Zealand is to survive rising oil prices'.
How does increasing the cost of a car park and adding additions road usage charges help one survive rising oil prices? Will oil / fuel suddenly become more plenfiful if we double the cost of parking? Will barrels of oil be sold at bargin basement prices because we have added additional road usage charges? I DON'T THINK SO!
The report 'calls for a fundamental shift in the Government's transport solutions'. They are advised in the report to do this by adding barriers and discouraging anyone to use the road system in private vehicles. We are already a country with no public transport systems outside of the main cities, ie Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin and even the systems in those cities are pathetic when compared with other developed countries.
The report advises companies to swap from company cars to allowances and bus subsidies! How stupid is that. "Where will you be today?" asks the boss, "Oh, just going to visit a client 20kms away, should be away most of the day", replies the employee, "What! Back in the year 2007 it only took 15 minutes to get there and another hour for the meeting. What on earth is happening here?", says the old fossil fuel boss. "Sorry boss, it's the public transport system, makes things take so much longer and I can't take the samples with me so have had to have them couried there so I can talk about them when I arrive. It's new government policy, great scheme!.
So here we have it, a group of morons and luddites asked to produce a report, a plan for the future. What do we get? A plan to take us back to the early 1900's when a bicycle was perhaps the best a man on the street could aspire to. A plan to destroy any efficiency gains that personalised transport has produced. A plan than sees only, barriers and no opportunities, gloom and doom but no optimism, a plan based on a defeatist attitude instead of one that looks to provide incentive to create personal transport solutions that are not based on oil.
What is most annoying is that we, the tax payers of New Zealand, are actually paying for this report. There are no solutions here. This is a report that says, 'We have had an earthquake, what do we do now?', 'I know, we'll bring in some tents, make a few paths, put in some stand pipes for water, or better still dig a few wells around the place, that should do nicely!". Instead of, 'Lets get in the heavy equipment, clear all the rubble, plan a new and more efficient place and start building bigger and better than before!".
A zero vision report from zero vision people. SACK the lot of them and while you're at it buty the Green Party, who welcomed the report!
The Dominion Post published an article about what we should expect in NZ in the near future from what is described as a 'Comprehensive new report'.
Idiotic statements like, 'Motorists should pay more to drive cars - including more expensive car parks, and fees to use roads - if New Zealand is to survive rising oil prices'.
How does increasing the cost of a car park and adding additions road usage charges help one survive rising oil prices? Will oil / fuel suddenly become more plenfiful if we double the cost of parking? Will barrels of oil be sold at bargin basement prices because we have added additional road usage charges? I DON'T THINK SO!
The report 'calls for a fundamental shift in the Government's transport solutions'. They are advised in the report to do this by adding barriers and discouraging anyone to use the road system in private vehicles. We are already a country with no public transport systems outside of the main cities, ie Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin and even the systems in those cities are pathetic when compared with other developed countries.
The report advises companies to swap from company cars to allowances and bus subsidies! How stupid is that. "Where will you be today?" asks the boss, "Oh, just going to visit a client 20kms away, should be away most of the day", replies the employee, "What! Back in the year 2007 it only took 15 minutes to get there and another hour for the meeting. What on earth is happening here?", says the old fossil fuel boss. "Sorry boss, it's the public transport system, makes things take so much longer and I can't take the samples with me so have had to have them couried there so I can talk about them when I arrive. It's new government policy, great scheme!.
So here we have it, a group of morons and luddites asked to produce a report, a plan for the future. What do we get? A plan to take us back to the early 1900's when a bicycle was perhaps the best a man on the street could aspire to. A plan to destroy any efficiency gains that personalised transport has produced. A plan than sees only, barriers and no opportunities, gloom and doom but no optimism, a plan based on a defeatist attitude instead of one that looks to provide incentive to create personal transport solutions that are not based on oil.
What is most annoying is that we, the tax payers of New Zealand, are actually paying for this report. There are no solutions here. This is a report that says, 'We have had an earthquake, what do we do now?', 'I know, we'll bring in some tents, make a few paths, put in some stand pipes for water, or better still dig a few wells around the place, that should do nicely!". Instead of, 'Lets get in the heavy equipment, clear all the rubble, plan a new and more efficient place and start building bigger and better than before!".
A zero vision report from zero vision people. SACK the lot of them and while you're at it buty the Green Party, who welcomed the report!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
NZ National Party - Fund Raising Woes
Here in New Zealand legislation has been passed to make the funding of political parties more transparent. Many forms of funding have been brought into question by the new law.
These are some of the new limitations placed on Political Party Funding:
Donors giving more than $1000 (whether directly or through an intermediary) must be identified to the recipient and will be named in public returns if limits are reached:
eg. a) donations to electorate candidates of more than $1000 towards an election campaign
b) donations to political parties of more than $10,000 in a calendar year
c) donations to third parties of more than $5000 towards an election campaign.
Donors may not give more than $1000 to any recipient unless they are: living in NZ, or are NZ citizens, or registered electors, or bodies incorporated in NZ, or unincorporated bodies headquartered or having their main place of business in NZ.
These new rules must be having a major impact on funding and anonimity. Not to be stymied by this the National Party in the Rangitikei have decided to earn money from the public by offering new services that benefit both the recipient and provider. 'Power to the people' you might say!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Beloved Leader - NZ
You may find it hard to believe but here in New Zealand we have our own "Beloved Leader", not Kim Jong-il, but our own, home grown Winston Peters. "He is not the leader" I hear you say! Maybe, but he is the "king maker".
Just a few months out from a general election and he is saying the if National wins most seats and he (Winston) is in a position to join them in government, then he wants every National MP to sign a declaration of support for Winston, "We love Winston and will cherish his support. We will do our utmost to conform to his demands. Beloved Winston, we capitulate".
You have to hand it to him, he is one great politician, been there for years, rejecting the baubles of office, switching from one government to the next, a slippery creature indeed.
Can the voters get rid of him or not? Will he break the 5% barrier? Will the get elected to a seat and bring in the inevitable hangers on?
Who can tell? Who cares? Well if National does get most seats and Winston gets elected to then perhaps John Key will care, he will have to put up with the great puppeteer, Winston, with his hand up his backside and I am sure Helen will be glad to have that same clammy hand removed from hers.
Just a few months out from a general election and he is saying the if National wins most seats and he (Winston) is in a position to join them in government, then he wants every National MP to sign a declaration of support for Winston, "We love Winston and will cherish his support. We will do our utmost to conform to his demands. Beloved Winston, we capitulate".
You have to hand it to him, he is one great politician, been there for years, rejecting the baubles of office, switching from one government to the next, a slippery creature indeed.
Can the voters get rid of him or not? Will he break the 5% barrier? Will the get elected to a seat and bring in the inevitable hangers on?
Who can tell? Who cares? Well if National does get most seats and Winston gets elected to then perhaps John Key will care, he will have to put up with the great puppeteer, Winston, with his hand up his backside and I am sure Helen will be glad to have that same clammy hand removed from hers.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Heart or Respiratory Systemic Failure (HRSF)
Recently the World Cancer Research Fund released the results of a long term study, the biggest yet, of cancer and it's causes. The consumption of processed meats and too much meat is regarded as a cancer risk. What does this mean for mankind?
Even more disturbing news with greater impact to health has now been released. A wide study of deaths going back hundreds of years has been conducted by a team of scientists headed by Professor Vladimir Humoroff at the Russian Institute of Human Health and Longevity based in Moscow.
This elite team has uncovered a threat to mankind of pandemic proportions. It affects almost every person on the planet, a far bigger threat than bird flu and worse still the threat is already here.
Professor Humoroff states, "In over 99% of cases studied, here in Russia and in 26 other participating countries, HRSF has been devastating and always fatal". Nowhere has anyone recovered once the onset of HRSF has been confirmed.
When asked how to avoid this and if a cure is imminent he said, "There is as yet no cure". "Sometimes death can be delayed by using life support systems". He went on to emphasize, "In Russia and around the world the best scientific and medical minds are working on a solution".
A spokes person for the Whyte House said, "There is no need for widespread panic and most people can still continue to expect a normal life span. However we have a plan in place already to protect the President, life will go on".
From the Vatican a statement has been released saying, "Here we have a catastrophe, this disturbing news brings into doubt the infallibility of God. Basically God has stuffed up in the design of man and now it is up to man himself to fix it".
When pressed for more a Papal spokesperson said, "If God can stuff up in this way, what hope is there for mankind"?
The world can only wait an hope. Hope man can find a solution, hope HRSF can be defeated, hope that you do not succumb.
Professor Humeroff and his team have described their alarming findings. "Prolonged failure of the respiratory system or the heart oxygen delivery system always results in death. The research required to beat HRSF is enormous. The world has never before been faced with such a huge challenge and the cose in human lives and money will be immense".
Those wishing to help can donate to the "Evolutionary Medicine Organ Treatment, United Operation Yield, Mechanical Outcomes Research Foundation", (EMOTUOYMORF). Please give generously.
EMOTUOYMORF
Even more disturbing news with greater impact to health has now been released. A wide study of deaths going back hundreds of years has been conducted by a team of scientists headed by Professor Vladimir Humoroff at the Russian Institute of Human Health and Longevity based in Moscow.
This elite team has uncovered a threat to mankind of pandemic proportions. It affects almost every person on the planet, a far bigger threat than bird flu and worse still the threat is already here.
Professor Humoroff states, "In over 99% of cases studied, here in Russia and in 26 other participating countries, HRSF has been devastating and always fatal". Nowhere has anyone recovered once the onset of HRSF has been confirmed.
When asked how to avoid this and if a cure is imminent he said, "There is as yet no cure". "Sometimes death can be delayed by using life support systems". He went on to emphasize, "In Russia and around the world the best scientific and medical minds are working on a solution".
A spokes person for the Whyte House said, "There is no need for widespread panic and most people can still continue to expect a normal life span. However we have a plan in place already to protect the President, life will go on".
From the Vatican a statement has been released saying, "Here we have a catastrophe, this disturbing news brings into doubt the infallibility of God. Basically God has stuffed up in the design of man and now it is up to man himself to fix it".
When pressed for more a Papal spokesperson said, "If God can stuff up in this way, what hope is there for mankind"?
The world can only wait an hope. Hope man can find a solution, hope HRSF can be defeated, hope that you do not succumb.
Professor Humeroff and his team have described their alarming findings. "Prolonged failure of the respiratory system or the heart oxygen delivery system always results in death. The research required to beat HRSF is enormous. The world has never before been faced with such a huge challenge and the cose in human lives and money will be immense".
Those wishing to help can donate to the "Evolutionary Medicine Organ Treatment, United Operation Yield, Mechanical Outcomes Research Foundation", (EMOTUOYMORF). Please give generously.
EMOTUOYMORF
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Collecting British Silver
If you collect silver then you will appreciate the hallmarks system.
Countries throughout the world use hallmarking to denote the silver quality, place and year of manufacture and also the makers details.
This is obviously a great advantage to collectors since they can get some idea about a piece of silver when they look at the hallmarks.
They enable the collector to easily focus on collecting specifics, eg place of manufacture, period, specific maker. For those visiting car boot sales and various markets, even antique fairs a knowledge of hallmarks adds to the experience when hunting out pieces of interest.
Several books are available that have details about hallmarks from various countries and these are a great resource, especially the pocket book size. The assay offices often produce small pamphlets that are even easier to carry in you pocket or purse.
Online resource also abound on the internet. One to help you learn the British Hallmarks, by way of a quiz, can be found at British Silver Hallmarks.
This quiz is quite fun and a free version for the city of Birmingham can be downloaded from the site.
A must try for all silverware collectors.
Countries throughout the world use hallmarking to denote the silver quality, place and year of manufacture and also the makers details.
This is obviously a great advantage to collectors since they can get some idea about a piece of silver when they look at the hallmarks.
They enable the collector to easily focus on collecting specifics, eg place of manufacture, period, specific maker. For those visiting car boot sales and various markets, even antique fairs a knowledge of hallmarks adds to the experience when hunting out pieces of interest.
Several books are available that have details about hallmarks from various countries and these are a great resource, especially the pocket book size. The assay offices often produce small pamphlets that are even easier to carry in you pocket or purse.
Online resource also abound on the internet. One to help you learn the British Hallmarks, by way of a quiz, can be found at British Silver Hallmarks.
This quiz is quite fun and a free version for the city of Birmingham can be downloaded from the site.
A must try for all silverware collectors.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Politicians - The Self Serving
Politicians must be the most self serving, grubby people in society.
Here in New Zealand we had an unfortunate, somewhat tragic event last week. A woman who was using a machine to assist with her breathing died.
So what? You may say. Well all the news was that an electricity utility company had visited the address because of an overdue electricity bill. They had previously sent a letter to the family to warn them that they would be disconnected if their bill was not paid.
The contractor arrived and the family took him into the house in an effort to explain the the electrical supply was essential to operate the breathing aid machine. In spite of this he continued with the disconnection.
Shortly later the woman died. We do not know at this stage if the death is directly attributed to the machine being inoperable due to the electrical supply disconnection or some other reason, she was not a well person.
Needless to say, everyone who had something to say about this event did so. The family, justified in their grief were both bewildered and angry at the actions of the utility company. The company stating that they had followed all procedures.
Local members of parliament visited the family to find out more about the circumstances and I suspect to get some free publicity in what is a good light for them, people in shining armour trying to ascertain what had happened and to apportion blame.
New Zealand being a small country with the population of a reasonably large city, managed, quite easily to get a reporter to interview the Prime Minister. She stated how sorry she was and that her members of parliament were involved and would assist the family in whatever way they could. Then, as the story grew, she decided, I suspect, that there was much more mileage to gain from this event. So she visited the family personally and become involved in the grieving and blaming process.
Now the politicians had a scapegoat, the utility company must be the ogre of the piece. "We must come down on them hard. Make sure this can never happen again. We need answers".
No reflection that this was a family in need, very low income, really needing assistance from government agencies. No this was nothing to do with bad government, bad policy, the creation of a low wage, low value economy. The government can feel it has done everything possible to ensure that such events cannot happen.
But who has all the information? The government through it's agencies knows exactly how much income is coming into this household. They know what medical care is being required and delivered. They have access to all the information and yet no responsibility. Perhaps they should be making sure the power company knows that the machine, sent out from a government owned hospital to help someone breathe, requires the constant supply of electricity to operate. Perhaps they should be in a loop to know that this family needed assistance to pay the bill. Perhaps they should know from the tax department that here is a family who is going to be struggling, low income, a number of dependents, the cost of living; perhaps they should be targeting these families to tell them what government assistance is available to help them through difficult times.
Finally. What about personal responsibility. The family were warned of the disconnection event. Should they have take more action to make the power company aware that their electricity supply was essential for medical reasons. Should they have taken immediate action after the disconnection to move their mother to a place where electricity was available or even have taken her straight to the local hospital.
Lots of questions remain unanswered but one thing is clear. Politicians from members of parliament right up to the Prime Minister, seeing a good publicity opportunity, jumped in with both feet to be part of the lime light.
Only one set of people, perhaps two, will continue to suffer after all the publicity machine has packed up and moved on to the next news worthy event. That is the family of the dead woman and the unfortunate person who cut off the power supply.
Here in New Zealand we had an unfortunate, somewhat tragic event last week. A woman who was using a machine to assist with her breathing died.
So what? You may say. Well all the news was that an electricity utility company had visited the address because of an overdue electricity bill. They had previously sent a letter to the family to warn them that they would be disconnected if their bill was not paid.
The contractor arrived and the family took him into the house in an effort to explain the the electrical supply was essential to operate the breathing aid machine. In spite of this he continued with the disconnection.
Shortly later the woman died. We do not know at this stage if the death is directly attributed to the machine being inoperable due to the electrical supply disconnection or some other reason, she was not a well person.
Needless to say, everyone who had something to say about this event did so. The family, justified in their grief were both bewildered and angry at the actions of the utility company. The company stating that they had followed all procedures.
Local members of parliament visited the family to find out more about the circumstances and I suspect to get some free publicity in what is a good light for them, people in shining armour trying to ascertain what had happened and to apportion blame.
New Zealand being a small country with the population of a reasonably large city, managed, quite easily to get a reporter to interview the Prime Minister. She stated how sorry she was and that her members of parliament were involved and would assist the family in whatever way they could. Then, as the story grew, she decided, I suspect, that there was much more mileage to gain from this event. So she visited the family personally and become involved in the grieving and blaming process.
Now the politicians had a scapegoat, the utility company must be the ogre of the piece. "We must come down on them hard. Make sure this can never happen again. We need answers".
No reflection that this was a family in need, very low income, really needing assistance from government agencies. No this was nothing to do with bad government, bad policy, the creation of a low wage, low value economy. The government can feel it has done everything possible to ensure that such events cannot happen.
But who has all the information? The government through it's agencies knows exactly how much income is coming into this household. They know what medical care is being required and delivered. They have access to all the information and yet no responsibility. Perhaps they should be making sure the power company knows that the machine, sent out from a government owned hospital to help someone breathe, requires the constant supply of electricity to operate. Perhaps they should be in a loop to know that this family needed assistance to pay the bill. Perhaps they should know from the tax department that here is a family who is going to be struggling, low income, a number of dependents, the cost of living; perhaps they should be targeting these families to tell them what government assistance is available to help them through difficult times.
Finally. What about personal responsibility. The family were warned of the disconnection event. Should they have take more action to make the power company aware that their electricity supply was essential for medical reasons. Should they have taken immediate action after the disconnection to move their mother to a place where electricity was available or even have taken her straight to the local hospital.
Lots of questions remain unanswered but one thing is clear. Politicians from members of parliament right up to the Prime Minister, seeing a good publicity opportunity, jumped in with both feet to be part of the lime light.
Only one set of people, perhaps two, will continue to suffer after all the publicity machine has packed up and moved on to the next news worthy event. That is the family of the dead woman and the unfortunate person who cut off the power supply.
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