Melbourne's most expensive view

Posted to Sydney Morning Herald (28/8/2011) on 30/8/2011 at 5:56 PM
Commenting on “Melbourne's most expensive view”
http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/luxury/melbournes-most-expensive-view-20110830-1jjba.html

Looking down from any million dollar penthouse (or apartment of lesser value), the sight of Melbourne is untidy, unpleasant and uninviting. The dirty rusty roof tops, surrounding run down warehouses and old factories just downgrade the value of these expensive properties. If one has a few spare million, is good to spend it on an ego ride.

Bob Katter's gay brother speaks out

Posted to Herald Sun (24/8/2011) on 24/8/2011 at 4:26 AM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Bob Katter's gay brother speaks out"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/bob-katters-gay-brother-speaks-out/story-fn7x8me2-1226120710520

Posted to Herald Sun (24/8/2011) on 24/8/2011 at 6:58 PM
Commenting on "Gay marriage about the 'powerful force' of love says Greens MP"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/gay-marriage-about-the-powerful-force-of-love-says-greens-mp/comments-fn7x8me2-1226121110331

It is not a matter of redefining the word marriage, or anyone being out of touch with the millions of Australians or people all over the world, it is a matter whether human beings should change their mindset and accept robotic and laboratory-produce offspring.

I am not a believer of creationism, but I believe that the existence of men and women on this planet is to enable the human species to propagate. So many people worry about global warming, rise in sea levels, big tsunamis, monstrous earthquake and all sort of disasters; not that they are concerned about the planet Earth being destroyed but more so about the extinction of human race. If so, doesn't same sex marriage fall into the same catastrophic category of disaster that can cause human annihilation?

Somehow a line must be drawn on the sand where complex relationship ceases to go beyond and morality cuts in, no matter how much and deep the love is.

Many people jump onto the band wagon about human rights. "Children" of same sex couples have their human rights stripped off from the day the female eggs being fertilised by a sperm each. Shouldn't a child have the right to have a legally recognised male father and female mother?

Teenagers too tired to learn as schools plan a radical shake-up of timetables

Posted to Herald Sun (20/8/2011) on 20/8/2011 at 2:17 AM
Commenting on "Teenagers too tired to learn as schools plan a radical shake-up of timetables"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/teenagers-too-tired-to-learn-as-schools-plan-a-radical-shake-up-of-timetables/story-fn7x8me2-1226118515356

Please bring back compulsary national service and military training so that these so called teenagers can learn some disicipline. The teenagers' world is turning topsy-turvy, getting from stupid to sublime. Australians are fast becoming jelly fish, boneless and gutless. If these young people do not understand what discipline in life now, how can we expect them to run the country in the future, not that our PM and her mobs are any better.

We are not alone in this world, and if we keep slacking, we will be falling behind the rest of the world, and even the God who saves the Queen can't do anything to save us.

Are we going to relax the drug laws because they want to try hard drugs? Are we going to lower the age of consent because they want to be irresponsible parents at very young age? Are we going to increase the speed limit so that more hongs can kill themselves and other innocent road users?

If the schools start late, do you expect the teachers to watch their toe nails grow before 11 am? Teachers have families to go back to, and they need a life, too. If young people have short attention span, do something to improve it, not by kow-towing to these no hopers. Wake up Australia!

Open-plan offices can reduce productivity and clean desks can shrink brains - study

Posted to Herald Sun (9/8/2011) on 9/8/2011 at 2:36 AM
Commenting on "Open-plan offices can reduce productivity and clean desks can shrink brains - study"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/business-smarts/open-plan-offices-can-reduce-productivity-and-clean-desks-can-shrink-brains-study/story-fn7j1dox-1226111206213

Only smart Alec can think of open-plan office concept as a goer. It does not need a brain expert or Einstein to tell you that noise and movement cause distraction and thus reduces productivity. It is a real pain when loud conversation is carried on, face-to-face or over the phone. Nothing is more irritating to have the myriads mobile ring tone disturbing the peace. In addition, many people are afraid of being watched by fellow workers or bosses when they require a power nap.

Gillard Government's 'Malaysia solution' in turmoil

Posted to Herald Sun (9/8/2011) on 9/8/2011 2:24 AM
Commenting on "Gillard Government's 'Malaysia solution' in turmoil"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/high-court-puts-malaysia-deal-on-hold-as-pressure-mounts/story-fn7x8me2-1226111240985

That's interesting, aren't the asylum seekers from Pakistan and Afghanistan Muslims? The fear of being arrested due to their religious beliefs is totally ill-founded and nonsensical. Malaysia is a Muslim country!

This is another boo-boo by Julia Gillard!

Retailers told the enemy is within

Posted to The Age (5/8/2011) on 5/8/2011 at 11:48 PM (Not published yet)
Commenting on "Retailers told the enemy is within"
http://www.theage.com.au/national/retailers-told-the-enemy-is-within-20110804-1idm5.html

If everyone boycotts Harvey Norman, Myers, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, just to name a few large retail outlets, because they charge more to cover costs in employing people, leasing buildings, using utilities, advertising, etc., this will lead to unemployment for many sales staff, tradespeople, property management, service providers, accountants doing tax returns, chefs, waiters, etc. Those who have made savings buying online, if they are still in employment, will eventually pay more taxes to cover the increasing number of welfare recipients.

This stupid and stubborn government fails to take note of the long term repercussion of great exodus of in-shop purchases, and refuses to tax all items purchased from overseas under $1000. At present, the cost of collection of these taxes may be more than the taxes receivable, but the scenario will change very soon as on-line transactions continue to grow. Who will be paying for the shortfall of tax revenue?

This is a double whammy. Just be careful, it could be the online shoppers’ job on the chopping board if this unfair practice is allowed to go on unchecked.

Doubts emerge over asylum-seekers' ages

Posted to The Australian (5/8/2011) on 5/8/2011 at 11:36 PM
Commenting on "Doubts emerge over asylum-seekers' ages"
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/kids-test-resolve-on-malaysia-solution/story-fn59niix-1226108915889

Get real Gillard, are you going to put the footage on YouTube? What a joke! Do you think that internet and computers are available in the detention camp in Malaysia? It is not a 4-star hotel where free wifi or free use of computers can be found at the lobby.

Productivity Commission calls for a shake-up in laws governing retailers

Posted to The Australian (4/8/2011) on 4/8/2011 at 10:06 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Productivity Commission calls for a shake-up in laws governing retailers"
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/productivity-commission-calls-for-a-shake-up-in-laws-governing-retailers/story-fn59niix-1226108247819

If everyone boycotts Harvey Norman, Myers, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, just to name a few large retail outlets, because they charge more to cover costs in employing people, leasing buildings, using utilities, advertising, etc., this will lead to unemployment for many sales staff, tradespeople, property management, service providers, accountants doing tax returns, chefs, waiters, etc. Those who have made savings buying online, if they are still in employment, will eventually pay more taxes to cover the increasing number of welfare recipients.

This stubborn government fails to take note of the long term repercussion of great exodus of in-shop purchases, and refuses to tax all items purchased from overseas under $1000. At present, the cost of collection of these taxes may be more than the taxes receivable, but the scenario will change very soon as on-line transactions continue to grow. Who will be paying for the shortfall of tax revenue?

This is a double whammy. Just be careful, it could be the online shoppers’ job on the chopping board if this unfair practice is allowed to go on unchecked.

Online retailers' tax advantages, regulated shopping hours must go

Posted to Adelaide Now (4/8/2011) on 4/8/2011 at 9:44 PM
Commenting on "Online retailers' tax advantages, regulated shopping hours must go - Productivity Commission"
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/online-retailers-tax-advantages-regulated-shopping-hours-must-go-productivity-commission/story-e6frea6u-1226108284276

If everyone boycotts Harvey Norman, Myers, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, just to name a few large retail outlets, because they charge more to cover costs in employing people, leasing buildings, using utilities, advertising, etc., this will lead to unemployment for many sales staff, tradespeople, property management, service providers, accountants doing tax returns, chefs, waiters, etc. Those who have made savings buying online, if they are still in employment, will eventually pay more taxes to cover the increasing number of welfare recipients.

This stubborn government fails to take note of the long term repercussion of great exodus of in-shop purchases, and refuses to tax all items purchased from overseas under $1000. At present, the cost of collection of these taxes may be more than the taxes receivable, but the scenario will change very soon as on-line transactions continue to grow. Who will be paying for the shortfall of tax revenue?

This is a double whammy. Just be careful, it could be the online shoppers’ job on the chopping board if this unfair practice is allowed to go on unchecked.

Online shopping tax grab delayed by Productivity Commissioner report into retailing

Posted to Herald Sun (4/8/2011) on 4/8/2011 at 6:39 PM
Commenting on "Online shopping tax grab delayed by Productivity Commissioner report into retailing"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/online-shopping-tax-grab-delayed-by-productivity-commissioner-report-into-retailing/story-e6frf7jo-1226108306696

If everyone boycotts Harvey Norman, Myers, David Jones or JB Hi-Fi just because these outlets charge more for employing people and leasing buildings, there will be unemployment for many sales staff, tradespeople, property management, service providers, etc. Those who have made savings on buying online will eventually pay more on taxes to foot the welfare system.

The stupid and stubborn government refuses to tax all items including those under $1000 purchased from overseas, there will be a reduction of tax revenue. So who will be paying for the shortfall?

This is a double whammy. Just be careful, it could be job on the chopping board if we allow this unfair practice to go on unchecked.

$100 ticket to ride the high-speed rail to Sydney

Posted to The Age (4/8/2011) on 4/8/2011 at 10:46 AM
Commenting on "$100 ticket to ride the high-speed rail to Sydney"
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/100-ticket-to-ride-the-highspeed-rail-to-sydney-20110803-1ibp8.html

Is this a replacement of air travel? If so, why stops at other towns between Melbourne and Sydney. There is no transit stops between Melbourne-Sydney by plane. People drive to Sydney not because they just stop at the airport or train station. Car provides the convenience and mobility once they arrive in Sydney.

By my calculation, $108 billion is $61 billion plus another 77% variance. What a great estimation! Can we extrapolate this to say that the project could be delayed by 77% in time to complete or 77% more bureaucrats to oversee the project?