NDC’s Neighborhood

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/17/2247887.htm

Folks,

Further to my recent post about a proportion of our population insisting on being allowed to suck on the proverbial social security tit ad infinitum, I do hope that this sort of exercise by the Government bears fruit.

We have all heard this before and the issue stays in the public spotlight for a short while, and then things return to a status quo. Then the sucking continues with a vengeance.

Change the welfare rules now, restructure the welfare system, put in place serious checks and balances to ensure toughness but fairness at the same time, follow through and mean it. That's the only way to ensure changed behaviours stay changed... otherwise that sucking sound will stick around for another generation.

Ninja

Believing I had stated my case briefly and clearly and not wanting to prolong the issue or be seen to whinge about it has prevented me from writing about it until now in The Age.

Clearly, though, the mannequin was just a catalyst for what came later, other far more influential players have moved in and out of the story and much misinformation has been allowed to be accepted as fact. This was by no means the first time I had been targeted by The Footy Show.

Further to my last post about this, the full story is over at Real Footy today.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23711763-601,00.html

Folks,

Our new Immigration Minister says that we need a major infusion of skilled and unskilled migrants to boost our workforce in Australia.

Senator Chris Evans explains it this way: "My general view is that we are increasingly facing a labour shortage, not just a skills shortage."

I beg to differ. What we actually have is not so much a lack of bodies, but a lack of political will to get many idle people in our community back into the workforce. I'm not talking about the genuinely physically disabled or those with mental disabilities or the elderly on zimmer frames or with bad kidneys etc. 

I'm talking about the many families where one adult has chosen to stay at home because from the taxation point of view, it makes more sense for them to stay put than to go to work. Thus, there are these people who have flown under the radar by choice so that they can continue to claim government-sponsored (ultimately taxpayer-funded) family support payments. Money for jam!

Still not convinced? Well, tell me how many of you know of youngsters who are sitting idle at home and running wild in shopping centres, who could perhaps be working if they don't want to study for one more day? How many of you know of single mums or dads with young adult children now, who'd like to return to work but can't get a look-in anywhere? We keep hearing of this boom we're supposed to be having and of people already here who can't find work in this country. Given this, why do we need to continue to import hundreds of thousands of migrants to supposedly fill our "labour shortage"? We have a ready workforce that just needs to be motivated to get out there, and for employers to give them a go.

I lay this parlous state of affairs at the feet of the previous government. They had 12 years to plan for this but left things idle until it's got to this point.

And the middle class welfare that sat at the core of the previous government's tax system, encouraged people to sit on their collective arses waiting for THEIR fuckin' handouts because blind freddy could see that there was just no incentive to work when one could stay home, watch "Oprah" on midday tele AND get paid at the same time! You tell me, can we really afford this in a country of some 7-8 million working people? No fuckin' wonder that our income taxes are so ridiculously high in this country!

While I'm here, let me just add my two-cent rant at the current backlash from our pensioners who are asking for more. I am the last one to begrudge them their due because I know, one day, I will be in their position.

But what this government has to do, is think EXTREMELY CAREFULLY about how they'll structure our tax system so that our social safety nets can still meet the requirements of today WITHOUT ERODING THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF THE PRESENT & FUTURE GENERATION OF WORKERS WHEN THEY RETIRE.

First thing to do is to root out all the under-employed, lifestyle-unemployed and clever tax dodgers in our midst and get them to start working or paying their fair share of taxes immediately. 

Nobody must ever get a free ride in this country, otherwise I'll personally be visiting them. I am just totally sick and tired of being a pack horse for this country's taxation system, carrying the many saddle baggers out there whom I know are trying to stay out of the employment and taxation radar.

Ninja

Alcohol, apparently, makes you very, very horny (I was also ovulating, so I was just one big pile of DO ME NOW! last night, heh). And then, it makes you very, very sleepy. So I didn't blog last night like I intended to. It wasn't very late when I was making the choice between blogging/working and going to sleep, but nevertheless sleep won out.

Anyway! I have some work to hurry up and knock out, and then I'll be back with a blog entry, pictures from last night, and photos for a new review I have. See you soon! :)

i finally finished painting my sketch book... yeah i'm so excited... and proud...:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yes the chinese girls face's eyeballs are way to close... bu i still like it and the colors... i adore the front of the book with they egg yolk sun... how i adore that...

 

 

 

oh this cute baby of my friend that is living with me for awhile is wonderfull cute... and tonight she decided to stick her finger down her throat and puke... she made herself puke like 3 times... looking at it and eating it... until her mom came over and stopped her from doing it... it was so silly and funny to see this baby do it because she thought it was new and fun not knowing it was actually bad for her...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

she is adorable... and then she starts to make these cute baby noises only trying to talk and they come out in like "aaahhhhss" and "bleppp"... so cute... an adoreable... i think adorable is my word tonight...

and i leave you with candy faces... the self portraits that i love to take of well of course myself...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh tonight was supposed to be a movie night with the drama girls and an extra girl... but it instead turned into and wine game night... i laughed my ass off... my cheeks still hurt... there was some drama that was going on but all in all it turned out to be a good night... and yes i was slightly drunk... oh i love my wine for sure.. thank you dancing bull...

 

candy

Well, I understand that it was good for the players to have a break but I for one missed the footy last weekend.  It's still all very interesting at the moment and round 8 should see teams start to get some consistency in their performances.  Let's take a look at what's on:

St Kilda v Collingwood: Looks like Riewoldt is out for a while which is a real blow for the struggling Saints, who just don't appear competitive for a team that has had final four aspirations for the past several seasons now.  Collingwood should be in better nick after the break and they're at good odds to win this game.

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide:  This match is being played at Aurora Park in Launceston, where the Hawks don't really have as good a record as they'd like.  The Chad Corneless Port Power have been improving but Hawthorn will be too strong for them tomorrow afternoon.

Richmond v Geelong:  A testing game for a competitive Richmond side against the premiers, but Geelong has too much all over the park for the Tigers to overcome.  But put a few bucks on them as an absolute roughie if you're feeling lucky.

Carlton v Brisbane Lions:  Interesting to see Voss' article today about the two young ruckmen for these two sides.  Carlton of course had a great win over the West Coast Eagles prior to the break and they're playing at home to the Lions tomorrow night.  I reckon Brisbane has the edge here, with Brown and Bradshaw up front to test the Carlton backline which I still think has some real weaknesses.  Brisbane are the favourites with the bookies but only just, and I expect that the odds may shorten between now and game time.  I note also that Travis Johnston is out for the Lions this week and he's been important for them in getting the ball out of the defensive fifty.  I'll tip Brisbane, but not with as much confidence as I'd like.

North Melbourne v West Coast:  Both sides make the long trip up north to Carrara stadium on the Gold Coast, with the Eagles in all sorts of trouble after a terrible start to the season.  Can't see the pain ending for them this weekend with the Roos the better pick.

Adelaide v Melbourne:  Despite Melbourne's miraculous form turnaround in the second half of their game against Freo last round, the Crows at home are a much tougher proposition.  I'll be keeping an eye on the margin and the stats to see if Melbourne are starting to sustain a little bit of form, it'd be good to see them improve after they've been completely written off by all and sundry early in the season.

Sydney v Essendon:  Sydney are having real problems without Barry Hall, the past couple of matches (vs the Kangaroos and then the Western Bulldogs) have highlighted how much better the team functions with him up in the full forward position.  An easier week for the Swans against an Essendon side missing key ball runners Lovett-McMurray and Adam McPhee.  Sydney to win out at the former olympic stadium.

Fremantle v Western Bulldogs:  [sigh]  I'd prefer not to write anything about Freo at the moment after my last effort about them.  Let the football speak for itself, I reckon.  Bulldogs to win.

Just a one point lead for me in the tipping comps at the moment, so this round could be a key one if I stuff it up.  Can't see too many people trying to pick upsets, though as with most weeks there are a few opportunities here.  Would be nice to get a perfect eight score without a draw being involved.  Good luck for your tips, enjoy the games you see.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=563391

Folks,

I'd like to put in a counter bid of $1 to get him to keep her, just to spare us all the horror!

Ninja

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23706650-601,00.html

Folks,

I'm licking my wounds at not having had the cojones a few years back to invest in Fortescue Metals Group. My complete respect to Andrew Forrest for persevering in this tough town to make FMG the third force in iron ore mining in Australia, behind BHP and Rio Tinto.

In such a mining-dependent town as Perth, lots of us city folk owe our new-found confidence and prosperity to the thousands of men and women who shovel and ship dirt everyday in Western Australia's hot north. We take great pride in helping to fuel the construction boom that's happening in China because almost all of our resource shipments go there - base metals, rare earths, LNG, LPG, coal, you name it. And then, there's also India waiting in the pipeline to buy our dirt.

And gee whiz, it is good to see someone like Andrew Forrest make good on his promise to turn his venture into a reality. All the more sweeter given the number of knockers who were/are around to wait to see him fail.

Success doesn't always follow hard work, but it is nice to sometimes see it happen. And it is good to see a genuinely nice bloke, who just happens to also be Australia's richest man currently, be the man of the moment.

Credit where it is due.

Ninja

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23703216-20142,00.html

Folks,

I'm always surprised why more countries don't initiate barter deals for products which are reasonably close in value. It seems that the present global credit squeeze has forced countries like Malaysia to think outside the square.

If it can stem and/or reduce its currency outflows through barter deals like its proposed rice-for-palm oil trade, then it could alleviate its own currency squeeze.

The problem with bartering is that it can only ever be a short-term solution because every country has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. What happens when you run out of palm oil, Malaysia? What would you trade then? Rubber? Tin? Tobacco?

The longer-term solution would be for more money to be directed to funding research into alternative and sustainable energy sources, and therefore spend a helluva lot less on fighting stupid wars for which nobody can really afford... not even the USA. Let's get real.

Ninja

http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2008/05/14-quake2/index.html

Just terrible... what's there to say in a disaster like this?

My heartfelt condolences to a whole country that's grieving for the loss of tens of thousands of lives in the Sichuan Province.

Ninja