Coalition warns of 'record' budget deficit amid revenue slump

Posted to The Australian (29/4/2011) on 29/4/2011 at 6:48 PM
Commenting on “Coalition warns of 'record' budget deficit amid revenue slump”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/coalition-warns-of-record-50bn-budget-deficit/story-e6frg6nf-1226046962406

Anyone still supports these three stooges, “Gillard, Swan and Rudd”, is a stooge too. $50 billion or $54.8 billion are not just numbers; these translate into pain and suffering for most Australians now and a generation or more to come. Government does not have money; the money comes from your pocket, my pocket, and pockets of many fellow Australians.

Government run by stooges who are inept to manage our hard-earned money should be sacked as soon as possible. It was not because these stooges were handed a debt burdened economy; they had more than $20 billion in the kitty when baby face Rudd of the Labor Party snatched the prime ministership from Howard. Rudd and his fellow stooges spent the money recklessly and behaved as though there was no tomorrow.

Imagine if you were filling an Olympic-size pool with bottled water of 1 litre each, you will need 2.5 million bottles. If you pay $1 for a bottle of water, the amount of money Australia owes the world will buy you 189.9 billion bottles, enough to fill 76,000 Olympic-size pools. Honestly, the way these three stooges spend our money like water must have beaten any Guinness World Record.

From SinFongChanNextElection.blogspot.com

Internet shopping to cost 50,000 Australian jobs in next five years

Posted to Herald Sun (29/4/2011) on 29/4/2011 at 3:31 AM
Commenting on "Internet shopping to cost 50,000 Australian jobs in next five years - National Retail Association"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/internet-shopping-to-cost-50000-australian-jobs-in-next-five-years-national-retail-association/

The bigger the online sales boom, the more China will benefit, because China is the Factory of the World producing products for almost all the online stores, and despatching them from China directly! Today, the items are small in size, but tomorrow the product range will include larger household items, furniture, cars, yatch, etc.

It has been said that Australian students' academic performance is far behind the Asian, the next obvious move is to enrol in online classes conducted by Asian schools oveaseas. In fact, this matter was raised at the training session I attended on 28/4/2011.

The most frightening thing that will eventuate is that China will become the Office of the World. With the advancement of technology, offices will follow the footstep of factories and schools and become borderless. All office works can be done remotely - documents/transactions processed, filed and stored; reports produced; calls answered; money transferred; meetings organised and conducted in virtual meeting rooms.

50000 jobs are just a small drop in the ocean. If you are working in an office reading this comment, "be alert, and alarmed", because your job will go sooner than you think.

Swanston St to be pedestrianised next year

Posted to Herald Sun (28/4/2011) on 28/4/2011 at 3:12 AM
Commenting on “Swanston St to be pedestrianised next year”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/swanston-street-to-be-pedestrianised-next-year/comments-fn7x8me2-1226045923908

This is the original blog.

Robert Doyle is full of hot air, promises and a member of NATO – No Action Talk Only. God only knows why he wants to close off Swanston Street from cars, taxis and delivery vehicles. Swanston Street is NOT an alternate road but the main thoroughfare that joins the two end boundaries of the City. Only very idiotic person can strategise in this most ridiculous way. Congestion, if managed properly, leads to vibrancy of a City. Stopping traffic to move through Swanston Street is no different from doing likewise to Glenferrie Road in Hawthorne, or Lygon Street in Carlton. The City blackspot is not Swanston Street, but the intersection of Swanston and Flinders Streets. Pedestrianisation of Swanston Street will not make the CBD safer.

Talking about safety, Robert Doyle was in charge of the Crime Prevention Committee during Kenneth’s time. He is just as bad in crime prevention now as he was then, because the crime statistics is no better now in the CBD than when he first became the Mayor. King Street is still the most notorious part of the City, infamous for Saturday night brawls and arrests.

That's the price to pay for NOT casting your votes with your eyes open. That's the price to pay for voting someone who can do back-flip better than a Chinese gymnast. What’s the price? $25.60 million.

Also
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2009/11/swanston-street-shuttle-bus-ban-plan.html
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2009/12/melbournes-15-million-party-to-bring-in.html
http://sinfongchanleader.blogspot.com/2010/01/city-flash-mob-worth-25k.html

Hospital food review called for amid claims of malnutrition

Posted to Adelaide Now (27/4/2011) on 27/4/2011 at 12:02 PM
Commenting on “Hospital food review called for amid claims of malnutrition”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/hospital-food-review-called-for-amid-claims-of-malnutrition/comments-fn6bqphm-1226045254127

If people are well enough to complain about the meals, they should be discharged from the hospital and not occupying the valuable beds. Not all hospitals serve foods as bad as described; furthermore, hospitals are not restaurants, and most people don't dine like the upper-crust with the luxury of ordering from a-la carte menu at exorbitant prices.

There are so many constraints regarding allergy, variation of texture, availability of seasonal foods at reasonable cost, staff absenteeism resulting in meals staying in equipment longer which can change the appearance of the food.

Most foods in hospitals are more nutritious than the unhealthy foods consumed by discharged patients. The fact that these people appear to be malnourish is that they lost all the kilos of the yucky fat they had been carrying while they were staying in the hospitals.

Refer to http://SinFongChanHealth.blogspot.com for more related topics

China dismisses Gillard concerns about crackdown on human rights

Posted to Herald Sun (26/4/2011) on 26/4/2011 at 10:28 PM
Commenting on “China dismisses Gillard concerns about crackdown on human rights”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/china-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-julia-gillard/story-e6frf7jo-1226045120195

I wish Julia Gillard stop lecturing the Chinese about human rights, treatment to minority groups and religious freedom.

What is happening in Australia is just the exact opposite. Excessive human rights to law breakers, special privileges to queue jumpers / hooligans on the roof, and in the name of religious freedom, we spend mega-bucks to refurbish public hospitals for the religious minorities and feeding them with special meals.

Read SinFongChanSocialIssues.blogspot.com

Marching orders for detention thugs

Posted to Herald Sun (26/4/2011) on 26/4/2011 at 1:20 PM
Commenting on “Marching orders for detention thugs”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/marching-orders-for-detention-thugs/comments-fn7x8me2-1226044769299?

I'm not a Bowen sympathiser, nor Labor supporter. It is better late than never. Sometimes we all wish to have a free hand to do everything, but this not the case in the real world. Just hope that the amendments to the laws will do what we are hoping for - tough enough to deter, punish the violators, yet satisfy our role as good Samaritans to help the genuine help seekers.

Plea to control Aussie Growth

Posted to Adelaide Now (26/4/2011) on 26/4/2011 at 1:31 AM
Commenting on “Plea to control Aussie growth”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/plea-to-control-aussie-growth/story-fn6bqphm-1226044640116

What a load of idiotic mumbo jumbo about unsustainable growth! Do we use up the natural resources? No, the natural resources are dug up and export to overseas for cash to line the billionaire pockets, and government. Oops, the experts also get a share for their crystal gazing!

Instead of building dams to meet growing population, channel excessive water from the north to irrigate large areas of harsh arid land, cultivating crops where suitable climatic conditions prevail, many Australians including the politicians are too complacent, and refuse to change the way they do things.

Compounding the problem is that many scientists and economists come up with crappy doomsday predictive models scaring the hell out of everyone, with simple solution like reducing population growth.

I have written an article in respond to a news item saying that China's economy is about to overtake US in 2015. China was a poor miserable underdeveloped country 3 decades ago, but now she is supporting a population of 1.3 billion and yet can win the economic race - it is a modern day fairy tale! Australia has only 23 million people, but keeps whinging about the size of the population – this is just laughable!

China's economy about to overtake US

Posted to Monash Weekly (25/4/2011) on 26/4/2011 at 1:35 PM (not published)
Resubmited Part 2 of 3 on 10/5/2011 at 9:23 PM
Commenting on “China's economy about to overtake US”
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/news/world/world/general/chinas-economy-about-to-overtake-us/2143313.aspx

Good on China. This is a great example for many countries to follow! Unfortunately, far too many countries adopt the NATO’s motto - Talk Only No Action!

With a population of 1.3 billion people to support and yet can win the economic race is definitely a modern day fairy tale. Australia has only 23 million people, but keeps whinging about the size of the population – this is just laughable!

While Australia still needs to resolve the NBN rollout, China has already built the highest rail track in the world linking Beijing to Tibet, the fastest bullet train, a modern international airport bigger than London’s Heathrow Airport, thousands of wind turbines, booming automotive industry building electric cars, rockets to send satellites and astronauts to outer space, and the most awesome one is that China is the factory of the world now!

End Part 1 of 3

Is there anything China cannot excel in? China is progressing at lightning speed – thanks to technology transfer, it is rather unstoppable. What is more concerning is that China will soon be the office of the world. With the unprecedented speed of technological advancement, a modern office is no longer an enclosed space with fixed locality - staff can be situated in other parts of the world, and documents filed and backed up in computer servers remote from the source.

Can you imagine the benefit of outsourcing office services to overseas companies? Just compare that with buying goods online from other countries – there is no GST if the value is under $1,000. Outsourcing office work saves on payroll tax, compulsory superannuation guaranteed contribution, office expenses, union interference, etc. What is going to happen to employment?

End Part 2 of 3

2009-2010 $19.1 billion international education industry has become the thing of the past. Australian government move to change the visa and permanent residency policies have led to a drastic decline in international students coming to study in Australia, causing a financial blackhole in our economy. This subject has not been raised openly and treated urgently by both political parties.

With economy of scale and determination, China can train more people in China per week than probably all the Australian learners / trainees trained in one year. It is just a matter of a decade or so, professional trainers in China will lose their accent, and international students from all over the world will be pursuing their qualifications in China. After being an educator / trainer in the industry for about 15 years, I can only say that future learners will probably get higher quality training in China than Australia, and at fraction of the cost.

After all that being said and written, are there no negatives about China especially the way she deals with human rights and social justice? I can only say it is a matter of opinion, and this is not relevant to the subject in discussion.

End Part 3 of 3

Kate Middleton won't obey, follows in Diana's footsteps

Posted to Herald Sun (22/4/2011) on 22/4/2011 at 4:50 AM
Commenting on “Kate Middleton won't obey, follows in Diana's footsteps”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/kate-middleton-wont-obey-follows-in-dianais-footsteps/story-fn7x8me2-1226043557025

Unfortunately this marriage will not last, probably up to 2015, "just like many sensible, realistic young people" who get tired with their partners very quickly. In an era of everything is made to be disposal and replaceable after short period of use, so is the today's union of couple!

Compounding the problem is that William will put other business above the marriage, and that is a sure sign of treating the partner as second best!

PS the tell tale signs are her eye-brows and nose!

V/Line and railway union battle over allowing pets on trains

Posted to Herald Sun (21/4/2011) on 22/4/2011 at 12:39 PM
Commenting on “V/Line and railway union battle over allowing pets on trains”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/vline-and-railway-union-battle-over-allowing-pets-on-trains/comments-fn7x8me2-1226042452743

That's nothing backward about Australia not allowing pets to travel on public transport, such as train. A pet can be as poisonous and small as a spider, and as well-behave and big as a bull. Where do we draw the line?

We don't need to follow what the Europeans do, because we are Australians NOT Europeans. Economically we are better than many European countries, because we are a better nation. In short they should follow our example. It is sorry to see so many Australians have the me-too mentality.

I don't belong to any union, but I don't like to knock any unionist for the sake of doing so. Train workers have a job to do, and their role is to look after the human passengers. Having pets on the train is like asking RSPCA pet shelters to accommodate homeless people.

If pets are allowed on the trains, that is going to set a precedence in allowing pets in food premises, movie theatres, aeroplanes, public swimming pools, and list just goes on.

Hasn't Mulder got better things to do? Perhaps he needs a bit more "training" for his position!

Baillieu ditches crime database update

Posted to The Age (20/4/2011) on 21/4/2011 at 5:05 AM
Commenting on “Baillieu ditches crime database update”
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/baillieu-ditches-crime-database-update-20110419-1dngj.html?

Professionals in 3 industries rank badly as rip-off artists: IT (software), real estate and used car sales in that order. The biggest IT con in world’s history was the Y2K bug. We have seen many systems failed in Melbourne including the infamous RMIT enrolment system, NAB glitches, LEAP, Myki, just to name a few. The most spectacular and well known software failure in the world was the Wall Street Crash in 1987 costing USD 500 billion in one day!

All good software systems rely on good programmers, and many so-called programmers don't have the grey matter for the job. Programming can be boring, and many good programmers move to other IT areas very quickly. Many of them don’t have the chance to see the systems through to implementation. New batch of programmers start from stretch looking at the same programs, solving some bugs but introducing new ones.

The larger the system, the more money goes down the drain. Large systems involve a lot more unproductive personnel, endless users’ meetings, left hands don’t talk to right hands, million cups of coffee and cost mega-bucks.

Good old programmers don’t die, but got wasted by consultant / employment agencies, and young IT managers who are feeling so insecure that their jobs may be threatened by the grey hair applicants. To add to the insult, many IT managers are good at playing politics, like asking for another $100 million budget, but have no idea about software or hardware systems.

Part 1 of 2


There are many institutions churning out the so-called IT personnel, or programmers who have learnt to code some “Mickey Mouse” programs. They bluff their ways in writing resume and application letters to satisfy the selection criteria. It is time that skill audits be done in the many larger IT departments to weed out those useless “professionals” who bring shame and disgrace to this industry.

It is not a matter of just spending another $100 million to get a new system or fix the existing one. The question is what’s wrong with the present system. All systems can be fixed, but not at that price - the price is highly inflated. I firmly believe that the system can be fixed at a fraction of the cost. How can this be done? Well, just call in the grey army, and send them away on a 4-week refresher course. The revamped system can be up and running sooner than you think!

Part 2 of 2

Natalie Barr makes Sunrise 'virgin' on-air TV gaffe about life sized Barbie doll

Posted to Adelaide Now (19/4/2011) on 19/4/2011 at 10:18 PM
Commenting on "Natalie Barr makes Sunrise 'virgin' on-air TV gaffe about life sized Barbie doll
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/natalie-barr-makes-sunrise-virgin-on-air-tv-gaffe-about-life-sized-barbie-doll/comments-e6fredq3-1226041408073

A dose of good humour is beneficial to our body. Relax, that was a genuine slip of the tongue. After all, that was a real virgin anyway. A bet anyone all the money in the world to find me a doll that's not a "real" virgin!

Go hi-tech to lower road toll

Posted to Adelaide Now (18/4/2011) on 18/4/2011 at 4:46 AM
Commenting on "Go hi-tech to lower road toll”

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/go-hi-tech-to-lower-road-toll/story-e6frea6u-1226040592733

Many road accidents resulting in fatality are more than just head-on collision or side collision. Mangled car bodies wrapped round trees or multi-car pile-up are unlikely to be prevented with new technology installed on those vehicles.

New technology in cars may save some lives, but will cause a false sense of security and new set of automotive problems. Tipsy, dopy and sleepy drivers will be driving with poor judgement, trusting the technology will correct their inability to control such lethal weapon on the road.

Responsible drivers are seldom the ones need training on advance / defensive driving techniques or technological gadgetry. In fact, most accidents are not caused by vehicle malfunction or lack of technological aids, but drivers’ failings - the result of present era’s society ills – lack of respect towards almost everything, including human lives.

Drivers under the influence of alcohol, even haven't caused any accident yet, should be banned from driving between 3 to 5 years, depending on the blood alcohol readings. Any driving culprits who cause other people immense pain and suffering should be sent to prison for at least 30 years.

SinFongChanNewspapers.blogspot.com

Office gripes

Posted to The Age (15/4/2011) on 15/4/2011 at 1:00 PM
Commenting on "Office grips"
http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/management/blogs/management-line/office-gripes-20110409-1d8dw.html

Get a life, office whingers! Spare a thought for the astronauts whose work is really out of this world. What about many archaeologists who virtually live in the past, and geologists and volcanologists who have only rocks in their heads?

Count your lucky star that you still have an office to go to. Wait till you get the boot; you will be staying at home watching your toe nails grow, do not have to get up early nor travel to work!

For more Social Issues and Life topics, please follow the links
http://SinFongChanSocialIssues.blogspot.com
http://SinFongChanPhilosophy.blogspot.com

MasterChef egos all in one basket at series three lunch

Posted to Herald Sun (15/4/2011) on 15/4/2011 at 12:08 PM

Commenting on "MasterChef egos all in one basket at series three lunch"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/masterchef-egos-all-in-one-basket-at-series-three-launch/story-e6frf96x-1226039380714

Two out of three regular judges are overweight or at least above the optimal BMI weight. In fact, one of these two may be considered beyond the overweight category. Unfortunately some of the previous contestants were bad examples, too.

The images of these people and excessively rich food cooked and presented are indirect endorsement of unhealthy eating and lifestyle. Weight related problems cost Australia dearly, but help weight loss companies and health studios making megabucks.

Since the program is not broadcast live, an analysis of nutritional facts and data of each winning dish should be displayed on screen as a mandatory condition for the program to go to air. In additon, a warning should also be issued for high fat and high sugar dish.

More more Health related topics, please follow
http://SinFongChanHealth.blogspot.com

More than four million Aussies drink to get drunk

Posted to Herald Sun (16/4/2011) on 12/4/2011 at 3:26 AM
Commenting on “More than four million Aussies drink to get drunk, report finds”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/more-than-four-million-aussies-drink-to-get-drunk-report-finds/comments-fn7x8me2-1226039178252

A casual society "breeds" disrespect; with no hierarchy, there is no authority. Children today call their parents and grandparents by name - they are friends. The same goes with students and teachers, "subordinates" and managers.

This is a bugger-all society, where law and order do not exist in the eyes of many, particularly the xyz generations.

Everyone talks about rights and equality, and therefore the drunkards, hoons, thugs and crims, can still argue their way out of trouble, and the law cannot do anything about it.

It is true that history shows there were corruption in the police force and cases of brutality. But then only small percentage of the police tainted the image. There are a lot more good police than bad ones. We cannot just throw our hands up in the air and keep curbing the police power. We have to give them a bit more power to carry their duties, and entrust them to keep us safe from the scum of the society.

Binge drinkers normally drink to excess when they are with their “mates”. They have low self-esteem; are show-offs in a group, but behave like “chickens” when in isolation. Once again, the public is picking up the tab to look after someone's children.

Criminals OK to do runner from cops

Posted to Herald Sun (16/4/2011) on 12/4/2011 at 2:20 AM (not published)

Commenting on “Criminals OK to do runner from cops”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/criminals-ok-to-do-runner-from-cops/story-e6frf7jo-1226039364249

This is utter nonsense, and beyond comprehension!

Does it mean that anyone running away from a crime scene does not have to stop running even when the police ask him/her to stop for questioning?

How the hell can the police identify the "suspect" if he/she keeps running, and how can the police lay charges if they can't even have a good look at the person?

The judiciary and legal systems are really up the Khyber! God save Australia and all good Australians!

Arthur Freeman gets 30 years for daughter's murder

Posted to The Australian (12/4/2011) on 12/4/2011 at 3:36 AM
Commenting on "Arthur Freeman gets 30 years for daughter's murder"
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/freeman-gets-30-years-for-daughters-murder/story-e6frg6nf-1226037464557

Freeman is no longer a free man! With 30 years in prison, there is plenty of time for him to reflect on his action.

Right or wrong is just a matter of opinion. For Arthur Freeman and many law breakers, they "did it" their ways, and no other way. The fact is simple - almost all the people doing certain thing in a certain way think that they are doing the right thing the right way.

A robber, bully, Jihadist, Gadahffi, etc acts according to the "I'm right, you're wrong" mentality. Even the so called good guys think that they are doing the world justice by flexing their military power to destroy historical architecture and killing enemies in the name of ridding a tyrant. The bad and the good guys don't feel remorseful even with loss of lives, or causing immense misery to many.

I don’t think anyone has any idea what went through Freeman’s mind when he committed that cruel act. Whatever it was, he pays a price arbitrarily set by societal moral guidelines.

Plan for heroin users to self-treat overdoses with drug Narcan

Posted to Herald Sun (11/4/2011) on 11/4/2011 at 12:18 PM (Not published)
Commenting on “Plan for heroin users to self-treat overdoses with drug Narcan”

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/plan-to-ease-drug-users-burden-on-system/comments-fn7x8me2-1226036880055

No means no! In the eyes of the law, whoever commits an illegal act, offence, crime, etc should be punished and pay for their actions. Some of these are societal bullies, scums, and free loaders. They keep blaming their upbringing background, people around them, the government, the society and even God for their wrong doing. Taxpayers' money should be spent on the betterment of the society, not for these who don't treasure their precious lives. All the do gooders should channel their energy to help those who are determined to help themselves - not by finding a soft way out of using substitutes. For those addicts, don't be babies, go get a life!

FBI memo: Roswell saucers were real

Posted to Adelaide Now (11/4/2011) on 11/4/2011 at 10:46 AM
Commenting on “FBI memo: Roswell saucers were real”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/fbi-memo-says-roswell-saucers-were-real/comments-fn6bqphm-1226036846002

Read carefully the content of Agent Hottel's memo to the Director - "They were described as being ...” . This phrase or sentence is in reported / indirect speech, meaning that information comes very likely from the investigator and two other special agents. The accuracy of the information was probably never verified and validated by Agent Hottel when he wrote the memo, and since the names of the original source have been censored, the truth will never be known.

Keeping mature aged workers in jobs

Post to Bayside Bulletin / Redland Times (7/4/2011) on 8/4/2011 at 12:53 AM

Commenting on “Keeping mature aged workers in jobs”

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/blogs/the-view-from-here/keeping-mature-aged-workers-in-jobs/2127430.aspx

The biggest problem why many qualified mature-age workers can’t find jobs is that many recruitment companies and human resource departments are run by people who don't know about the nature of the positions advertised. They look for perfect match. Whoever can write an application with lots of BS that match the selection criteria will stand a chance for an interview, otherwise the application will be thrown into the non-Recycle bin.

End of Part 1

Post to Bayside Bulletin / Redland Times (7/4/2011) on 8/4/2011 at 12:53 AM

Commenting on “Keeping mature aged workers in jobs”

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/blogs/the-view-from-here/keeping-mature-aged-workers-in-jobs/2127430.aspx

There is no joy for a grey-hair applicant after getting a phone call to go for an interview. The next hurdle is to face a younger, feeling insecure manager who doesn't want anyone that can present a threat to his/her promotion or even replacing him/her in the future.

Many job advertisements are written by graduates who have just finished a TAFE / uni course, using terms or jargon that many people can't understand.

End of Part 2

Post to Bayside Bulletin / Redland Times (7/4/2011) on 8/4/2011 at 1:31 AM

Commenting on “Keeping mature aged workers in jobs”

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/blogs/the-view-from-here/keeping-mature-aged-workers-in-jobs/2127430.aspx

How many of these terminologies can a mature-age experienced person including managers who have been working for decades with small companies “decode”? e.g. 2IC, ICC, CCT, CO, MO, L&D, L&M, PD, KPI, KRA, 360 Degree feedback, 6 Thinking Hats, etc.

Who wants to appear like an idiot in front of an interviewer bombarding the applicant with these out-of-the world terminologies? How many courses do we expect the mature-age unemployed to attend to upgrade their qualification or to re-train? Who do you think the trainers are and what sort of qualification do they trainers have?

End of Part 3

Post to Bayside Bulletin / Redland Times (7/4/2011) on 8/4/2011 at 1:32 AM

Commenting on “Keeping mature aged workers in jobs”

http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/blogs/the-view-from-here/keeping-mature-aged-workers-in-jobs/2127430.aspx

Do I sound cynical? Sure I do, I'm one of the unfortunate candidates.

To add salt to the wound, I'm more qualified and experienced than my students and yet if one of my students and I apply for the same position, guess who will get the job? Not me, for sure! Unfortunately, I’m over qualified – haha!

Will you take a Jack of many trades, and master of some like me? I love to hear from you!

End of Part 4

Carbon tax winning voters but conditions attached

Posted to Herald Sun (6/4/2011) on 6/4/2011 at 3:15 AM

Commenting on “Carbon tax winning voters but conditions attached”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/carbon-tax-winning-voters-but-conditions-attached/comments-fn7x8me2-1226034308351

"Women, families and higher-income earners were the strongest supporters"? What an insult to the intelligence of these people (I hope I'm defending correctly)!

Julia Gillard, tell us honestly (if you understand the meaning of honesty) what are the ratios of distribution / usage of the carbon tax collected from the large carbon emitters?

Labor has never been a good money manager, and it is frightening to imagine much of the money will be wasted in building an ivory tower managed by a large pool of fat cats, leaving nothing much to invest in clean energy - and even so probably in Labor's marginal seats!

Wake up all Australians, last month our country experienced a trade deficit of 0.2 billion dollars. The trend will worsen from now on. Unless the Labor Government do something more constructive in revitalising our manufacturing industries and creating jobs, rather than just deceiving and distracting the people on an issue similar to the Y2K hoax, Australia will definitely become a banana republic!

For the good of Australia, show no mercy to this smiling lying Prime Minister. Show no pity to vote for her just because she is a female! Do vote smart, not for a tart!

Literacy and numeracy education system flawed - Part 2

Posted to Adelaide Now (5/4/2011) on 5/4/2011 at 10:53 PM
Commenting on “Literacy and numeracy education system flawed”
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/literacy-and-numeracy-education-system-flawed/story-e6frea6u-1226033651976

The previous comment I posted is based on my many years of experience as a trainer (a word I dislike to use) in competency-based-training (CBT) in private colleges and TAFEs. There is a push to introduce CBT in primary and secondary schools. This will worsen the LLN problem.

LLN is fundamental and basic requirement upon which other knowledge and skills can be built on. CBT is good for task-based training, but makes the learners very much one-track mind. As an example of CBT, a sportsperson may excel in a particular sport he/she is trained and coached in, but nothing else.

CBT is also a cause for many mature-age workers being unemployed. While they may have years of solid background and know-how for a particular field of work, an employer or the employment agency prefers to seek out candidates, probably with little or no prior working experience but have specific skills, to fill the position for that particular instance. Resume can be fabricated so that a candidate has an advantage over other applicants, but when problem arise, all hell breaks loose.

LLN skills are not an option. They must be compulsory to job seekers, because of our stringent industrial and employment laws.

Literacy and numeracy education system flawed - Part 1

Posted to Adelaide Now (5/4/2011) on 5/4/2011 at 12:14 AM
Commenting on “Literacy and numeracy education system flawed”

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/literacy-and-numeracy-education-system-flawed/story-e6frea6u-1226033651976

The education system fails Australia! Too much emphasis is placed on training instead of teaching, and competency instead of quality.

In the name of being a developed, affluent English speaking country, we have a misconception that we are more superior than our neighbouring Asian countries - poor, underdeveloped or developing.

Whatever we do in Australia, we do it the most expensive way, because we are bound by many legislative requirements such as equal opportunity, anti-discrimination acts. Our system produces half-baked Rolls Royce instead of quality T-Ford learners.

From early childhood days, children are brainwashed to take things easy, not to be overloaded with knowledge - the key to future success. Instead of building solid foundation based on language, literacy and numeracy LLN skills, children are forced to learn things that even adults have problem in grasping such social responsibility, global warming, bullying, etc. Children are encouraged to think and debate without the underpinning knowledge, and hence grow up to be unreasonable and arrogant - Jack of all trades, and master of none.

My motto is "being good is not good enough, my minimum standard is excellence!"

Millions behind on basic skills, threatens Australia's international competitiveness

Posted to The Australian (4/4/2011) on 4/4/2011 at 3:36 AM (Not published)

Commenting on “Millions behind on basic skills, threatens Australia's international competitiveness”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/millions-behind-on-basic-skills-threatens-australias-international-competitiveness/story-fn59niix-1226032957469

The education system fails Australia! Too much emphasis is placed on training instead of teaching, and competency instead of quality.

In the name of being a developed, affluent English speaking country, we have a misconception that we are more superior than our neighbouring Asian countries - poor, underdeveloped or developing.

Whatever we do in Australia, we do it the most expensive way, because we are bound by many legislative requirements such as equal opportunity, anti-discrimination acts. Our system produces half-baked Rolls Royce instead of quality T-Ford learners.

From early childhood days, children are brainwashed to take things easy, not to be overloaded with knowledge - the key to future success. Instead of building solid foundation based on language, literacy and numeracy LLN skills, children are forced to learn things that even adults have problem in grasping such as social responsibility, global warming, bullying, etc. Children are encouraged to think and debate without the underpinning knowledge, and hence grow up to be unreasonable and arrogant - Jack of all trades, and master of none.

My motto is "being good is not good enough, my minimum standard is excellence!"