Kevin Rudd cuts himself shaving then shares it on twitter

Posted to Herald Sun (10/7/2013) on 10/7/2013 at 12:25 PM (not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Kevin Rudd cuts himself shaving then shares it on twitter"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-features/kevin-rudd-cuts-himself-shaving-then-shares-it-on-twitter/story-fnho52jj-1226676991326

What a comedian or a smiling assassin! It's really funny to see the first PM in the world has a band aid stuck on his face. On the contrary, it is a good reminder what a sharp blade or dagger can do to one's face or back.

With no credibility in project and financial management during the past years, another 3 years in running the country by Kevin Rudd, we soon be printing funny money!

Kevin Rudd leads Tony Abbott as better prime minister, latest Newspoll reveals

Posted to Herald Sun (9/7/2013) on 9/7/2013 at 12:28 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Kevin Rudd leads Tony Abbott as better prime minister, latest Newspoll reveals"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/kevin-rudds-return-as-pm-boosts-primary-vote-to-the-same-level-as-last-election-according-to-new-poll/comments-fni0fiyv-1226676232353

Sympathy does not necessarily translate to winning an election, but Kevin Rudd may make it.

Kevin Rudd dumped by Julia Gillard in a rather dramatic and ungraceful manner was viewed by many that Kevin Rudd was a victim, and treated his return to the prime ministership as something deserving.

For the past month, Kelvin Rudd has proven to be a good publicist, marketer, opportunist but a rather sore and resentful loser, lack the support of his former experienced peer in the caucus, who chose to resign rather than to sit in the same parliamentary chamber with him.

He is really good in saying sorry, but the word is far from meaningful if things just go wrong one after another. One sorry he will never have a chance to say is that the financial ruin the Labor government under him and former PM Julia Gillard that have dug.

Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd have no concept of financial management. The social reform policies have long term repercussion on a dwindling pool of taxpayers.

Tony Abbott needs to ask himself is, "Why am I not as likeable as Kevin Rudd?" Unless he rectifies all his negatives, a hung parliament may be the best case scenario in this election.

Penny Wong reveals why she betrayed Julia Gillard

Posted to Herald Sun (29/6/2013) on 29/6/2013 at 12:40 PM (not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Penny Wong reveals why she betrayed Julia Gillard"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/penny-wong-reveals-why-she-betrayed-julia-gillard/story-e6frf7jo-1226671770803

It is interesting to note that Penny Wong, former Finance Minister under the Gillard's government, has switched camp and landed in the position as the Leader of Senate. Penny Wong's survival is a very smart and strategic move by Kevin Rudd. Penny Wong is an Asian-born (Sabahian), lesbian female. She is the best tool for killing three birds (race, gay, gender) with one penny.

The case for RBA tipsters being wrong - Again (Part 1 of 2 Posts)

Posted to The Age (5/3/2012) on 5/3/2012 at 12:44 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "The case for RBA tipsters being wrong – again"
http://www.theage.com.au/business/the-case-for-rba-tipsters-being-wrong--again-20120305-1uc2k.html

The current model used to calculate unemployment rate is unrealistic and unreliable, and should not be taken into consideration for RBA to decide rate changes.

The model is unrealistic because anyone works for one hour paid employment during the survey period is considered employed. If that same person works for 35 one-hour jobs, he is in fact equivalent to a full-time worker, but instead he is counted 35 times.

It is unreliable because seasonally adjusted is not no longer valid. Many people purchase goods when sales are on, including Christmas items after Christmas, summer fashion after summer, etc. The latter is true, because most goods are sourced from China, and there is a two-season difference between China and Australia.

What is more concerning is that when travel expenditure is down, this is a reflection more on air travel. Unfortunately air tickets are made up of two components, the actual cost of ticket and the fuel surcharge. Many airline companies are living in the lah-lah land by slashing the ticket price continuously to an unprofitable level just to attract extra patronage. This price slashing is not to curb inflation, but for survival. It is, therefore incorrect to be used as a determinant variable for RBA.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's surprise move to put Bob Carr into Foreign Minister role (Post 2 of 2)

Posted to Adelaide Now (2/3/2012) 2/3/2012 at 7:05 PM (not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Prime Minister Julia Gillard's surprise move to put Bob Carr into Foreign Minister role"
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/gillard-to-reshuffle-cabinet-after-rudd-revolt/story-e6frea8c-1226287011216

All these reshuffling will cost the taxpayers truckload of money, because all those involved will have stationery thrown into garbage bins, to redecorate the offices, recruit and appoint staff, reorganise computer information for access authorisation, receive training and briefing on the new position, fix myriads of mistakes made when climbing the learning curve, etc.

Julia Gillard is no stranger in regards to staying in a position for short duration. She was a Jacquie of all trades, and Ms of almost none. This is the best way to make excuses that "I'm still new to the job".

For the dumped or out-of-flavour MPs, such as Harry Jenkins, Kevin Rudd, Robert McClelland and Mike Kelly, please look deep inside your hearts and do the honourable thing by resigning thus bring forth an early election to rid off this habitual lying PM.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard's surprise move to put Bob Carr into Foreign Minister role (Part 1 of 2)

Posted to Adelaide Now (2/3/2012) 2/3/2012 at 6:22 PM (not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Prime Minister Julia Gillard's surprise move to put Bob Carr into Foreign Minister role"
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/gillard-to-reshuffle-cabinet-after-rudd-revolt/story-e6frea8c-1226287011216

Liar, liar, liar! Once a liar it is always a liar. Now, another liar comes on board!

I'm in fact referring to the habitual liar PM, and Carr who categorically denied of having the PM offering him the FM position, his expressing enthusiastically about Australia's bid for a seat on the Security Council which he had never been a fan of, and he said he did not want to go to Canberra, but will be sitting in the Senate. Bob Carr may be the excellent choice as the Foreign Minister, but Julia Gillard is definitely the wrong choice as the Prime Minister.

Australian foreign minister resigns amid speculation of leadership bid

Posted to CNN (22/2/2012) on 22/2/2012 at 7:10 PM (Not yet published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Australian foreign minister resigns amid speculation of leadership bid"
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/22/world/asia/australia-rudd-resignation/index.html

I posted a comment to the news article published by Herald Sun (19/6/2011) on "Kevin Rudd set to party to mark his 'assassination day'. I reckoned that the whole thing was a conspiracy. Kevin Rudd’s resignation at 1:20 am Washington DC local time or 5:20 pm Melbourne Eastern Standard Time is the continuation of the saga.

The following is my original post, which was also posted to my blog site http://sinfongchanpolitics.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/kevin-rudd-set-to-party-to-mark-his.html

Kevin Rudd was never dumped. It was just an act to rescue Labor from total annihilation in the previous Federal Election. A change of leadership was the only way to beg the people of Australia for mercy to give this incompetent party another chance. With further intentional deterioration in performance will give Kevin Rudd an excuse to return to his rightful place - showing that he was not that bad after all.

Just think about this, why did Kevin Rudd just so happen had to admit to hospital at the peak of election campaign? It was just to avoid answering questions from the media. Former mates Wayne Swan and Julia Gillard did not visit Kevin Rudd at the hospital, nor a phone call to check on his condition was just unthinkable; in short, they are not fit to be called Australians if this was done intentionally.

Why in the world Julia Gillard has to kowtow to Kevin Rudd and keep Foreign Ministry just for a political "enemy", and provided such a big budget for him to travel around the world.

The so called conflict between Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd went on and on like a pork chop. This is nothing more than a distraction so that Australians will not pounce on the government continuously about the wasteful unproductive projects and mismanagement of the country.

Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd did not come from the lower rung of the labour force. They were well educated and had not really dirtied their hands in the shopfloor during their younger days. Their ideal on Labor movement is no more what they have learnt from textbook. They use the Labor Party as the platform and vehicle to enable them to rise to the top.

Deep down inside, they are unlikely supporters of Labor movement, which is a hindrance to Australia’s progress. The current show down is a way to destabilise the factionalism within the Labor Party, so that the Party can move more towards the less industrially militant position like the Liberal’s.

Perception is everything to gain confidence of the people of Australia. Once again, Kevin Rudd appears like a sacrificial lamb and Julia Gillard the big bad wolf. Despite all these drama and stress, Julia Gillard seems patient, cool and unmoved. She is a very smart lady and appears to be unassuming. By stepping down, Kevin Rudd is seen to be honourable and “submit” to play the game of peace, and he will be given a chance to rule the country again, does extending the life of Labor Party in power.

During the past few months, many key Ministers are in dead silence. They are all in the plot, and know very well what is behind the story, and how future will unfold. For what Kevin Rudd has done, he will be given a Diplomatic post likely in China, Indonesia and upcoming Burma, countries that have great strategic significance to Australia.

Relative calm will prevail for the next few months, and many bills will be passed with the help of the Independents, Greens and even Liberal MP’s who now have lost patience with the leader. Many of these bills will result in Australia going into further debt. The real unemployment rates, not the so called official ABS reported statistics, will rise. The mining boom is going to fizzle out as China’s economic prosperity begins to slow down.

Julia Gillard will remain as the Prime Minister until the next mutiny which will take place prior to election 2013. At this appropriate moment, the baton will be returned to Kevin Rudd, a god send saviour who has the charisma to pacify the restless Australians, as the country’s economy takes on a tail spin!

Sadly to say, the Liberal Party’s inaction leads to their missing a golden opportunity to get Julia Gillard out of office, if that is their intention!

ANZ recruiting in Philippines as local jobs axed (Part 2 of 2)

Posted to The Age (19/2/2012) on 19/2/2012 at 12:22 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on “ANZ recruiting in Philippines as local jobs axed”
http://www.theage.com.au/national/anz-recruiting-in-philippines-as-local-jobs-axed-20120218-1tg3l.html

Just in case some readers are not familiar with the basic accounting equation, profit or loss of a business is equal to income minus costs and expenses. Salaries, wages and superannuation, office rental, utilities, etc are costs and expenses, and since with less people around, the costs and expenses will be drastically cut. The profit will increase even if the income remains unchanged.

Are these CEO’s that smart to come out with these strategies? No, many just spend company’s money to engage consultants to plot against their own people! If part of the CEO’s reward is based on performance, this is the simplest way to make more profit without increasing sales!

How can these people go to bed with a clear conscience every night?

End 2 of 2 Parts

Racism very much alive in Australia, says Dr Charles Te

Posted to Herald Sun (20/1/2012) on 20/1/2012 at 3:42 AM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Racism very much alive in Australia, says Dr Charles Teo"
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/racism-very-much-alive-in-australia-says-dr-charles-teo/story-fn7x8me2-1226247766763

Won't it be funny if the indigenous people were to tell the descendants of the convicts, fleet officers, migrants and refugees to go back to where they came from?

More bleak times ahead for housing

Posted to The Age (10/1/2012) on 10/1/2012 at 11:32 AM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "More bleak times ahead for housing"
http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/more-bleak-times-ahead-for-housing-20120107-1ppiy.html

The unreasonable property price rise was a fault of the government policy by introducing FHOG, which indirectly put extra money in the developer's and vendor's pockets from its early introduction. The long term effect is propagated and felt until today.

In order to soften the impact of GFC, Rudd introduced policy in removing the FIRB approval on foreign investment, which unleashed a real estate monster. This policy is now being reversed.

One must not compare our real estate prices with Canada or USA. If so, why does not one compare ours with Hong Kong or Japan? Every country goes through different phases of development and the people value ownership of properties differently.

Investing in real estate is a business and requires business, financial and management skills. Decisions should not be made by looking through a crystal ball or throwing a dart on a special real estate dart board.

Rates and costs are published and well publicised, and buyers have no excuse in blaming anyone for making wrong decisions. The current fall is a painful lesson for investors who were impatient and followed the Joneses, committing to large loans that cause untold mental and financial stresses. For the live-in owners, you have not made any loss at all because you have not sold your properties; their values are just numbers on paper.

Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go (Post 3 of 3)

Posted to The Age (27/12/2011) on 29/12/2011 at 12:23 PM
Commenting on "Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go"
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/lets-pop-the-helium-balloon-before-we-let-it-go-20111226-1pa00.html

It is amazing that this article has turned into a scientific debate about helium. There is no mention in this article about the releasing of helium, or whether helium being toxic to the environment. The article is about the balloons which were filled with helium and what damage they can cause when the balloons are deflated.

Strictly speaking the helium used in filling up the balloon is eventually escaped back to the atmosphere, and there is no loss of helium in the atmosphere. A deflated balloon does not imply that the helium level is depleted in the atmosphere.

Please scaremongers don't start a hoax and waste public money in campaigning the ban of filling up anything and everything that needs helium! Helium-fill balloons should be allowed for indoor functions and the enjoyment of children, but banned completely from releasing into the atmosphere outdoor on whatever the occasion.

Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go (Post 2 of 3)

Posted to The Age (27/12/2011) on 28/12/2011 at 12:00 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go"
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/lets-pop-the-helium-balloon-before-we-let-it-go-20111226-1pa00.html

No matter how intelligent a turtle was, a dead turtle is no longer an intelligent turtle. May I ask Martin C whether you are speaking as an "intelligent" person who has returned to the living world after a near-death-experience?

Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go (Post 1 of 3)

Posted to The Age (27/12/2011) on 27/12/2011 at 10:13 AM
Commenting on "Let's pop the helium balloon before we let it go"
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/lets-pop-the-helium-balloon-before-we-let-it-go-20111226-1pa00.html

As early as 2009, I started writing letters to local papers and political party calling for a ban in releasing balloons on various occasions by the public. It is treacherous that the disused balloons ended up polluting the ecology and killing defenceless aquatic lives.

'New' goods scandal: more stores accused (Part 3 of 3)

Posted to The Age (23/12/2011) on 25/12/2011 at 1:01 AM (Not yet published by newspaper)
Commenting on "'New' goods scandal: more stores accused"
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/new-goods-scandal--more-stores-accused-20111223-1p80h.html

Some of the defects of returned goods can be detected visually, but it is almost impossible for a salesperson to be a hi-tech, electronic or software expert; and even so, no experts know everything in every field. Processing returned goods is more than a pain, and handling an irate and unreasonable customer returning goods requires the skill of a communication expert or psychologist.

Reselling returned goods as new under the Consumer Laws is definitely deceptive and misleading depending on the circumstance. With high cost of labour, many stores do engage casual workers or minimum staff. It is unfair to expect them to know every single piece of company’s policies.

While many big companies, not necessary the retailers but more so the wholesales or manufacturers can write off the returned goods, many small operators who have no purchasing power may go belly up. If the suppliers are local, all the losses will be passed on to the consumers, and the honest ones will pay for the black sheep.

It is quite selfish to keep pointing our fingers at “greedy” Australian retailers, and increase buying online from overseas. The Government is an accessory to kill off employment opportunity by not imposing taxes on direct purchase from overseas. There is a very simple solution, and not requiring any hi-tech or sophisticated system to collect the millions of dollars

I am only a fair-minded Australian consumer, despite my Chinese name, voicing out on behalf of business operator, large or small, who provide employment to millions.

End of Part 3 of 3

'New' goods scandal: more stores accused (Part 1 of 3)

Posted to The Age (23/12/2011) on 25/12/2011 at 1:00 AM (Not yet published by newspaper)
Commenting on "'New' goods scandal: more stores accused"
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/new-goods-scandal--more-stores-accused-20111223-1p80h.html

This has been a common practice since the dawn of return with no question asked policy.

It is ridiculous that some stores do not allow garments to try on due to health and hygiene reason, and yet they are allowed to be returned with no questions asked. Whoever tried on the garments, whether the initial purchaser or people they know, may have skin diseases or some form of dangerous transmittable diseases, not detectable by naked eyes.

I do know some very unethical people who only "buy" clothing for a function and return it a few days later, sometimes with bonus stained marks on the return item.

From time to time we hear those horror stories about "unhappy" restaurant customer complaining about their meal and the waiter gracefully returning dish to the kitchen. The unscrupulous chef / cook may just rejig the dish and return as a one!

End Part 1 of 3

'New' goods scandal: more stores accused (Part 2 of 3)

Posted to The Age (23/12/2011) on 25/12/2011 at 1:00 AM (Not yet published by newspaper)
Commenting on "'New' goods scandal: more stores accused"
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/computers/new-goods-scandal--more-stores-accused-20111223-1p80h.html

The generous return policy is a joke, but then who is laughing? Competitions created such monster, hoping that this will compensate the lack of customer service. Refunding with no questions asked is one way to stop a loud customer creating a commotion in the shop!

I have been on both sides of the fence, as a consumer and supplier. Once I was a supplier of made-to-order birthday cakes to a big supermarket chain. A customer returned just a small piece and some crumbs to the supermarket and demanded a refund.The customer did not like the cake but required no further explanation. The supermarket refunded the customer in full, but I, the supplier, had to refund the supermarket.

Unfortunately, the new Australian Consumer Laws just being introduced replacing many other state laws are no improvement to safeguard the interests of the suppliers.

Customers should give clear reasons for the return and information be documented. If there is enough evidence to prove that the returned item is damaged by the customer and not defective when new, the customer has committed a fraudulent act.

The refund policy should be replaced by replacement so that purchasers should take responsibility of the purchase decision. An item after being exchanged should not be allowed the second time. In cases where replacement is not possible, then all refunds need to be withheld for a period pending examination so that the fund is not available for seasoned culprits to go to stores to purchase more goods, or make refund a cumbersome chore for some people to take advantage of.

Part 2 of 3

Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep up (Post 2 of 2)

Posted to The Age (23/12/2011) on 23/12/2011 at 2:44 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep"
http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/housing-shortage-bites-as-supply-fails-to-keep-up-20111221-1p55v.html

Thank you, Andrew Smith, for mentioning the Knight Student Visa Review. The international education industry has been damaged severely and the heyday is over. I was on three sides of the fence riding high from boom to bust, as a teacher/trainer, student, and student accommodation owner.

International students’ presence created service industries catering for this market niche; there was an increase in commercial properties used as campuses, groceries, cafes / restaurants, travel agencies, migration advisory and consultation offices, etc.

Many of the student accommodation properties had been sold at reduced prices recently. These properties are not just classed as an investment property, but also as a business concern. Generally speaking, a property leased to less than 4 separate tenants do not require a permit and is not classified as a student accommodation. Many houses, units and apartments including those at Dockland are leased to international students.

There are owners who shared their houses with international students by providing home-stay. This is essentially a tax-free income which helps to pay off the mortgage. The death of the industry has caused financial hardship for some of these property owners resulting in forgoing their properties.

Many policies of this Government are policies-on-the run, which have cost Australia dearly. I hope my comments do provide some insight about the education industry catering for the international students and how it impacts not only on the property market, but also other related service industries.

Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep up (Post 1 of 2, Part 3 of 3)

Posted to The Age (21/12/2011) on 22/12/2011 at 6:05 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep up"
http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/housing-shortage-bites-as-supply-fails-to-keep-up-20111221-1p55v.html

I cannot speak on behalf of other places, but my personal contacts reveal that the rental market for December in Melbourne has been the quietest in memory. According to one property manager, there was surge of 17% more properties listed for rent, and another told me that the telephone she had plenty of time to catch up with her paper and filing. These two areas are in different suburbs, at least 100 kilometre apart.

Although there are not many international students in these two suburbs mentioned above, this is real problem for many investors who own properties in CBD or near colleges, providing student accommodation. Those students who have completed their studies in December of 2011 have packed their bags, leaving the rented properties vacant. The once very profitable student accommodation industry is now officially dead.

The increased in number of properties for rental may also be due to increased number of previous tenants have purchased their own homes and move into new premises due the holiday season. There is another possibility that many new investment properties which offered rental guarantee are no longer in their honeymoon period, and these investment property owners now have to seek new tenants actively.

Under normal circumstances, December is busy for many estate agencies. Since very few internationally students come to Australia for next year enrolment, there is drastic drop in enquiries and demand for rental accommodation.

Another possible explanation is that interstate migration movement for job transfer is not happening, or speaking pessimistically job opportunity is dwindling in Victoria. If the underlying reason is about employment, people will feel insecure to move from job to another, leading to reduced tenancy movement.

Part 3 of 3

Jump in US housing starts points to recovery

Posted to The Age (21/12/2011) on 21/12/2011 at 11:55 PM
Commenting on "Jump in US housing starts points to recovery"
http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/jump-in-us-housing-starts-points-to-recovery-20111221-1p4tt.html

"US housing starts and building permits jumped to a 1-1/2 year high in November as demand for rental apartments rose."

Excuse me, Sir, can you tell me who is investing in the building construction? Is it similar to Australia, in particular Sydney, which the Asians are pouring in the money?

Does demand of rental apartments mean tenants looking for rental apartments, or investors looking to buy rental apartments? What's the vacancy rate in apartments at present?

"It will still take two to three years to work off the excess inventory ..."

Why do people keep building more apartments when there is excess inventory not cleared?

Oh, Sir, do people still believe in Stock fundamentals? Are people getting too gullible believing in just one set of rather ambiguous data?

Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep up (Post 1 of 2, Part 2 of 3)

Posted to The Age (21/12/2011) on 21/12/2011 at 10:58 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Commenting on "Housing shortage bites as supply fails to keep up"
http://theage.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/housing-shortage-bites-as-supply-fails-to-keep-up-20111221-1p55v.html

Thanks to the Government policies that our population has dropped substantially. The 300,000 population estimated growth was largely due to internationally students coming to study in Australia. The policies close the golden doors resulting in not only drop population, but also 18.8 billion worth of export income, second (or third) after mining. This resulted in the State and Federal budget shortfalls, which require businesses and taxpayers to fill the financial void.

Such substantial drop in population leads to similar drop in demand of housing, and all related service industries. While this drop may free up the rental market, it creates a dilemma for investors buying or owning properties to cater for this demand.

I would like to alert readers of the government's National Housing Supply Council (NHSC) report, including developers and investors alike, to digest it with a grain of salt. The report reveals information as at end of June 2010, while the Government policies became effective from 1July 2010. The impact is felt all across the education industries; multi-storey commercial buildings once used as campus have been posted with “For Lease” sign, many TAFE and private college teachers and administration staff have become unemployed, etc.

Part 2 of 3