Prediction - Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Products in Housing

I recently went to an investment seminar and subsequent followup meetings. In this I was told that I should built a stock "executive, 4 bedroom" house and make a killing.

This really bugged me because I'm so tired of seeing these crap buildings (especially in our climate) because it's the current fashion in Melbourne or Sydney.

I object to this on two counts:

1. It's foul for our climate - shit, we're building low ceiling, besser block houses with no eaves and black roofs - this in a climate where Summer temps typically exceed 32 degrees! Who's the idiots building this shit?

2. It's going to be economic suicide - with the price of energy expect to rise sharply in coming years (Peak Oil, Climate Change, Carbon Taxes, etc), then it seems idiocy to be building a "stock" house made for current fashions.

On #2 alone, it would make much more sense economically to be building low impact, sustainable and energy efficient houses NOW so you can cash in when the prices start to rise. Think how much easier it will be to rent a property when you can offer a tenant SIGNIFICANT savings on expenses!

Confirmed: Israel Bombed First...

As confirmed on Democracy Now (July 14 interview with Noam Chomsky), my recollection WAS correct. Following the kidnap of the Israeli soldiers by Hezbolla, Israel conducted massive bombing in retaliation resulting in the death of some 60 people. At this point, Hezbolla retaliated - yet they are copping the blame.

Shame on us, shame on Israel, shame on the media for allowing the reverse to be peddled as truth every day...

Observation - Expensive Training = Lower Aussie Wages

We're seeing an increasing trend at the moment.

The right are pushing to fuck up the national training strategy (e.g. high Uni fees, stuff up TAFE, etc) and then pay scant regard to providing future trained resources. This is happening now.

The downstream impact of this is that we have a huge skills crisis in this country. So how are we fixing this? Are we providing more training? Are we subsidising areas requiring skills development? No (well, except for Doctors but that's thanks to radical Unionism (AMA)), instead we bring in skilled resources from overseas.

Why - obviously this is a planned strategy to force down wages across the board.

On ya Johhny - fuck the unions, fuck up Uni's and then start fucking with us ... you bastards!

Why - Ceasefire Is Not Offered?

Okay, I can understand why Israel doesn't want a ceasefire until they've sorted out Hezbollah.

But why on earth can't our leaders ask for a temporary ceasefire - perhaps a couple of days - to allow innocents to flee the area? Once it was over then Israel could bomb the crap out of the place knowing, with some legitimacy, that they'd offered people the chance to leave safely?

Who's On First?

I'd love to relive history so I can work out if Israel is telling a huge nasty. They are arguing that Israel is defending itself after Hezbollah "invaded" Israel, killed and kidnapped soldiers and started raining Katyusha rockets down on Northern Israel.

Except, my recollection (which may be wrong) is different. There's no problem with the bit about Hezbollah killing and kidnapping, but I do wonder about the rockets. I could've sworn that Israel started that by bombing the crap out of Southern Lebanon - to which Hezbollah retaliated.

I could be wrong (perhaps it just wasn't reported that way), but it would seem that they are responding to Israel's agression. Why couldn't Israel simply send in a targetted group to rescue it's soldiers?

DEBUNKED - Prediction - Terrorist In Canberra

Well, what a day.

Yesterday we had former defence minister Ian McDonald make the claim of an "agreement" between Howard and Costello prior to the 1994 spill of Downer effectively saying that Howard only wanted two (2) terms before standing aside for Costello.

By morning, Howard had blankly ruled out that a deal was ever done - end of story, or so we thought. Later in the day, Costello dropped the bomb - in his opinion there had been an agreement - and frankly, he's fucked all of them.

Why? Well, Howard's credibility is shot (honest John ain't so honest after all) and, should Howard push on, Costello has just provided Labor with it's campaign slogan - "how can you trust Howard if he lies to the closest people in his own party?". But Costello is equally stuffed because he lacks the numbers to overthrow Howard and by now openly coming out and effectively calling Howard a liar, he's not likely to gain friends quickly. So, in one swift move, Costello has killed both of their future aspirations - possibly the greatest political suicide of our generation.

My guess is that (yet another) deadline for Howard to quit has passed and so Costello has realised that if it didn't happen now, it would never happen. If Howard went to another election, by then Costello would be nearing retirement so why bother? So, he's thrown the incendery in instead, deciding to take Howard out with him...

Tonite Bishop tried arguing there was never an agreement because, as it was before they'd even reached power, there was effectively nothing to offer. What a load of shite! Clearly Costello put his own future as leader ON HOLD so Howard would go up to the party room unopposed. If a deal WASN'T done, he wouldn't have held back his nomination. Clearly this means that a deal had been struck.

We've also had some comment that Costello's credibility is shot because he's repeatedly denied rumours of a deal. But clearly Costello has denied the allegation till now as part of loyality - going far beyond and putting the party's interests ahead of his own - he put the party first for 2 elections or 5 years (I'm amazed he lasted this long).

No, this is not an attempt to yeild office from Howard - it is instead an deliberate attempt to unseat Howard ... at his own demise. Who would have thought that Australia's first suicide bomber would come from the Liberal Party?

Edit (8/5/07): Well, Howard continues to amaze as does his resilience. Currently down in the pools, I still think he's a good chance for another win (question this is, who will be PM?).

DEBUNKED - Prediction - GBRMPA's Demise...

Well, it looks like the right may have had a win over GBRMPA. After months of threats pre-election to close them down for bad decisions RE: the rezoning (which, admitted was pretty poor) comes a rumour that GBRMPA is about to be shutdown (or scaled down at least).

The following item on the ABC site was most concerning for the lack of support from Ian McDonald arguing that a "presence" would be maintained in Townsville and other coastal areas.

Presence - sounds like they're going to put shop fronts in and move the lot back to Canberra (where they can reign in all those rampant marxist scientists). But be warned, these sort of rumours have circulated before and some think that a report (as yet to be released) RE: the rezoning process is going to be scathing and will result in a massive overhaul.

Edit (8/5/07): Well, it's nearly been 12 months and GBRMPA is still going strong. Looks like I called this one incorrectly!

Prediction - QNI B-Double Drama's

For some reason, everyone seemed to miss the "50 b-doubles per day, 6 days a week" going out to QNI from the Port as a result of the latest expansion plans. No rail movement, it's all by truck.

I wonder if someone will wake up before they start? My guess it'll be a non-issue till people realise what 100 truck movements per days means to their roads....

Question - East Timor's Troubles...???

I'm still having trouble trying to work out the situation in East Timor. We're led to believe there is this huge political division between East and West - but surely this doesn't come from nowhere - there has to have been a history of it to be this bloody now - but why have we never heard about it before.

We've also heard about possible peturbations from Indonesia - trying to unsettle the country. But what about Australia? I recall hearing at one point that Alkatiri was considering a socialist state which would have pissed off our incumbent government no end - particularly after all the hand waving RE: the oil and gas rights in the Timor Sea.

So, it has me wondering - who has the most to gain out of this? Indonesia - yes, as an unsettled country makes it a target for "resettlement" so that law and order can be reimposed. But I think Australia has more to gain. If it can swing in a more sympathetic government, it could:

• Water down the Timor Sea treaty
• Knock any idea of becoming a socialist state into touch - nothing could be worse than having a marxist government on your doorstep (akin to Venezuela) who wants to look after their citizens before it looks after the interests of capital.

Which makes this article all the more interesting. Make you wonder ....

What If: We're Right about Everything...

I've often wondered if the sceptics RE: Global Warming and Peak Oil (typically the NeoCons, the religious conservatives and the generally ignorant) have ever thought "hey, what if these nutcases are right?".

It's an argument I've thought of taking with the "head in the sands" types I meet regularly and ask them - "what if I'm right? If I'm wrong, then at worse, I'm going to look like a fool. But if I'm right, then are you really willing to ignore the possible consequences?"

Just a thought...

Why - Are We All Skitso?

I've come to the conclusion that we're all a bunch of hypocritical, do one thing say the other, one minute left but thiuking right (and visa versa) bunch of fools.

Look at the things that piss us off - particularly when it involves government involvement.

We all complain about pedaphiles and want our kids protected ... but when a school bans cameras at a swim meet, we tear the organisers to pieces.

We all want affordable healthcare ... but if anyone thinks about increasing the medicare levy then look out.

We think the world is too violent ... but are aggreived that we can't carry an automatic weapon around with us (or worse, have to apply for a licence to have one!).

We think the government is too leniant with criminals ... but no-one stops at Stop signs anymore and are aghast when we're caught speeding, making all sorts of excuses why we should be excused that one time.

We become a bunch of neurotic whingers that want everything controlled and stopped ... as long as it doesn't impact on me. Yet another sign we are becoming self obsessed...

Fox News' Obsession with (Bad News) Iraq

I was stuck by a comment made by the likes of Bill O'Reilly once in the media about the "liberal" media's obsession with the bad news stories coming out of Iraq and not allowing coverage of any of the positives.

Well, recently we signed up for cable and my regular channel surfings takes my via Fox News - and all I EVER see is ... bad news Iraq stories. Coverage of bombings, terrorism, attacks, american deaths - even the positives are wrapped up in dour, depressing coverage. Yet, when I compare this to Sky, CNN or BBC - nothing. Iraq doesn't rate a mention unless something significant is happening - but on Fox, it's EVERY news break has an Iraq story.

So, is this yet another case of the wolf crying fowl?

Urban Design - Why do we get it sooooo wrong???

Brisbane and the South East corner of Queensland is slowly dying. It thinks it is a young, vibrant city - and indeed, the city of Brisbane certainly is a stunner - just a pity it has come at the cost of the urban fringe which is ensuring that it slowly squeezes the life out of the South East corner.

But why has this had to happen. Many have argued for years that this was coming - that without a suitable hand on the tiller and with careful and planned development, that Brisbane would soon become this horrible urban smear stretching from Noosa in the north to Coolongatta in the South. And, unsurprising, this horrible vision has come true - and look at the consequences:

• Core public services (water, hospitals, public transport, roads) all straining under the load
• Water at a premium
• Land at a premium

And at what cost? What of:

• The health of its citizens?
• The health of the environment?
• The viability of the entire region?

And yet, it could have all been avoided.

Brisbane faced the crossroads in the late eighties when the first signs of burgeoning growth were evident. The city was faced with two options:

1. Allow the city to continue to burst at the seams - a development at all costs approach OR
2. Encourage satellite cities to nurture the entire region.

Our proposal was simple.

1. Put a physical boundary on the growth of ALL centre's in the South East - Brisbane, Logan, Caboolture, Ispwich, Toowoomba, Esk, Beaudesert, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
2. Establish HIGH SPEED traffic corridors between these centres (this was to mean both road AND rail - but with a particular emphasis on rail as they can be used to encourage development hotspots (its useless having a subdivision if it's not serviced by rail whereas as long as the road goes past the front door...))
3. Force each "satellite" to population limits based on resources available (water, available land, etc).
   
4. Let each centre develop and compete for development.

It seems so simple now - yet they stuffed it and look at the consequences.

Question is, how do we convince Townsville/Thuringowa to avoid going down the same path?

Thoughts - Capitalism = Democracy?

I've long riled at the suggestion made by supporter of the Capitalist system that it somehow is a mirror to democracy. The corporation does what it's shareholders want it to do and they get to vote on it like a real democracy.

BULLSHIT!!!

How can it be a democracy where individuals or individual companies can hold such large share holdings that only their interest carry? It's like saying that your votes in a democracy should be based on your weight - so Big Wal just lost out.

I really grow tired of this constant comparison like it's some panacea to our woes. If anything, a corporation is more like a dictatorship. Look at News Corp - Rupert is doing all he can to ensure he maintains majority ownership and can't be toppled from the top. Why? Because he doesn't want it to be a democracy. He doesn't want to loose all that power and influence he has.

So if I hear another right wing wanker pull that one out of their arse, god help me!!!

Prediction - Peak Oil is Here (but they're not telling)

There's been a rush on Nuclear Power generation in recent weeks. Most notably in OZ where Howard has decided to make a debate out of the issue (with preordained results, etc). I don't know what's going on in the US, but I noticed this article today on BBC News.

There seems to be a lot of jockeying going on at the moment, as as countries like OZ have the upper hand (we have lots of the stuff) are their machinations going on to take control of the new (looming) cartels?

I suspect so. But why? My prediction is that Peak Oil has finally hit the political reality and the power brokers are making their play. Of course, don't expect them to tell us it's happening - that would be probably bring about the collapse of the Western world!!

Prediction - Peak Oil is Here (but they're not telling)

There's been a rush on Nuclear Power generation in recent weeks. Most notably in OZ where Howard has decided to make a debate out of the issue (with preordained results, etc). I don't know what's going on in the US, but I noticed this article today on BBC News.

There seems to be a lot of jockeying going on at the moment, as as countries like OZ have the upper hand (we have lots of the stuff) are their machinations going on to take control of the new (looming) cartels?

I suspect so. But why? My prediction is that Peak Oil has finally hit the political reality and the power brokers are making their play. Of course, don't expect them to tell us it's happening - that would be probably bring about the collapse of the Western world!!

Theory - Dinosaur Extinction vs Gravity

I've long had a thought about the extinction of the great dinosaurs that seems in complete contrast to current theories. I suspect it's because mine is full of flaws (like that the period of extinction spans thousands of years perhaps) but it's always made me wonder.

So, here it is:

Dinosaur Extinction Theory
Forget notion about some catistrophic event (e.g. Meteor strike) or climate change - both of which have merit. My theory is that it was Gravity. How so I hear you ask?

Well, lets look at our current biology. The largest terrestrial animal is the elephant - nothing bigger, yet bigger is supposedly good. What about Giraffe? Their necks are so long, that if they fall to the ground and are unable to right themselves quickly, the blood flow rushing to their heads will kill them. Then consider the largest animal - whales. They can exist in their watery environment, but beach themselves and they are suffocated by their body mass. And lastly, consider man. The tallest a man can get is something under 7 feet. When this has been exceeded, the individuals have died young because of organ failure - they're simply unable to cope with the size of the individual.

Yet, we're meant to accept that terrestrial animals perhaps 5-10 times larger than the largest terrestrial being currently in existance lived for Eon's on the planent! Please...

Something drastic has had to have changed - and surely all this can be is the effect of gravity. The cause? Massive meteorite strike? Perhaps an abundance of meteorite strikes over a prolonged period causing a gradual build up in the mass of the earth (yes, yes, I know, a grain of sand added to huge boulder isn't going to make an significant difference - but hey, it's my theory and I'm allowed to make this up as I go along). Could it be that the subterranian magma effects have changed over time (increased cooling has lead to increased mass)?

Who knows? All I know is that the paradox between what we know today vs what we're told to accept from prehistoric times worries me - and this presents a possible explaination.

I actually found someone (who I must admit coined the theory before I had, but I'd long thought about it myself but had never put it in writing) who also pushed this theory. He was an Iraqi scientist but as this was just before the Iraq war, I felt uncomfortable talking about such trivialities with him and thus never sought out his opinion. Pity, I don't even know if he's still alive...

Prediction - Nat/Lib "Merger" is a Scam!

For someone who only discovered a week ago that his party is about to become defunct, Laurence Springborg looks remarkably at ease with his predicament. So, it has me wondering if Mr Springborg knew earlier than he is willing to admit (which would make Mr Vaille's position even less tenable) or (more likely) could it be that other externalities make this deal SO attractive that it can't be dismissed?

So what's the deal? My money's on a temporary or bogus union - 5 mins after the election (assuming they win), the Nat's will be allowed to reform and the faithful allowed to "demerge" from the Liberals - thus returning us to the status quo.

So why all this skullduggery? Well, for one, the current voting system in Queensland doesn't really support "aligned" parties - thanks to optional preferential voting. It has decimated the coalition's ability to win electorates, particularly when they can't help themselves by running two candidates. Equally, Labor faces the same problems when/if the Green vote is mobilised.

Of course, this simply underscores the differences between the two parties as it highlights that liberal voters don't want to preference the Nat's and visa versa (after all, optional means that it's the voters choice (not some party room deal)) - so I can imagine that living with the truth is hard.

However, I think the biggest driver for this "merger" was the announcement a couple of weeks ago that Family First would contest EVERY seat in the coming state election. "Oh dear, it's One Nation all over again!" Combine this with Optional Preferential Voting and the conservative vote will be decimated leaving the coalition in the political wilderness for another 3 years.

So, my guess at their strategy is as follows:

1. Regain power at whatever cost (in the short term - particularly federally).
2. Reform the National Party and "demerger"
3. Repeal the Optional Preferential Voting legislation
4. Stay in power forever...
   

The bottom line - they're running scared of Family First and the power that's been granted to voters by Optional Preferential Voting. Question is, will it work or will this "slight of hand" be seen for what it is ... political suicide for the Nat's!!!

Regards, Mark B

Prediction - AV Convergence - Next Big Thing

So what happens when the run on flat screen TVs runs it's course? Well, the next "big thing" IMHO will be the turn of AV Convergence. Say what?

Basically I mean the turn of HTPC. Except, more than that. I think this market will take off once:

• The equipment looks more like stereo components.
• You can drive nearly everything via dials and knobs on the front of the unit.
• Includes the following:
• Digital TV & PVR
• Timeshifting
• Digital Radio (free to air and Internet)
• DVD/CD Player/Recorder
• Image Library
• Front side controls (volume, input selector, tuner, power off, CD/DVD controls)
• Front side AV inputs (accepting Digital AND Analogue)
• And most importantly, is affordable.

They should've been more invasive except manufacturers have made them look and act like PCs instead of stereo components. Once they wake up to that mistake, watch them take off.

Thoughts - Barnarby's True Mind - Stuffed!

Well, we learnt today the true mind of Barnarby Joyce following his announcement that we should pillage Antartica. Why? Well, in the eyes of Barnarby, if we don't, someone else will - so we might as well get in there and rape the resouces before someone else gets a clue before hand.

So Barnarby, in 1939, rather than objecting to Hitler invading Poland, should we have gone in first? Does this also mean you back Iran's plan to gain the nuclear bomb? Because, if their neighbours are planning to do it, we might as well get in first?

Where's the morality in your argument Barnaby? Why not take a stand in the face of anyone daring to move into Antartica and exploit its resources? Why aren't we screaming blue murder at the Japanese for the massacre of Whales? Why aren't we screaming at Bush and Howard about the perils of global warming and that this nonsense has to stop?