Well, Kevin Rudd did well to initially state that the Federal Government would underwrite any losses suffered in the event of an Australian bank collapsing as a result of the world's financial crisis. Good point for him, thats what a Government is to do when times of hardship happen.
But I totally disagree with the soon announcement that the Federal Government will give one off payments of $2100 to pensioners, $1000 to babies born after 14 October and lump sum payments (the amount escapes me) for low income earners and an increase from the first home buyers grant to $14,000 (up from the existing $7,000) and an astonishing grant of $21,000 to first home "builders" as long as the house is constructed before 30 June 2009.
This totals a massive $10.4 BILLION dollars in hand outs.
And why? Because the "average" Australian is struggling during the current financial crisis....
What a load of rubbish! The reason why the crisis happened in the first place was that people were living on credit and buying homes on 100%+ mortgages and then defaulting on those mortgages causing a glut of 'bad debt' in the market place. It is because of the chronic ability for people to buy things within their means...
And now Rudd is giving people a lump sum which will primarily be used on luxury items and paying off debt so people can use more credit. In addition, do you not think that every house just went up in value by an additional $7,000 and hence mortgages will be that fractionally more expensive?
Why not simply reduce fuel excise so that the average Australian will save $1000 a year on petrol? The surplus remains, the government takes a cut on their income but Australians will have a bit more disposable income to ensure that the economy remains proportionally prosperous.
Instead, Rudd has blown the surplus - which should be used for capital expenditure on infrastructure - on your average Australian gaining a plasma TV.
Disgraceful!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Welcome Miss Molly
Well, we have a new addition to the family... Miss Molly the Labradoodle.
Niki has been dropping big hints about a 2nd dog for a while and when we walked past the pet shop last week, her ideal puppy was there in the window.
End result, Miss Molly!
Pictures of Molly and Zoe playing...
Niki has been dropping big hints about a 2nd dog for a while and when we walked past the pet shop last week, her ideal puppy was there in the window.
End result, Miss Molly!
Pictures of Molly and Zoe playing...
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Special Comment on Sarah Palin
I havent been too bloggy of late and therefore have not really gotten into the US election campaign and in particular, a complete idiot of a person Sarah Palin who is the Vice Presidential Candidate for the Republicans. This woman would be #2 in the White House should McCain win.
But she makes no off the cuff speeches, she refuses interviews, she says very little in public and when she does she is seen as light weight and focuses on dirty politics.
If you agree with that statement, then you will enjoy this.
* kudos for Glenn for passing this to me.
But she makes no off the cuff speeches, she refuses interviews, she says very little in public and when she does she is seen as light weight and focuses on dirty politics.
If you agree with that statement, then you will enjoy this.
* kudos for Glenn for passing this to me.
Update to the Pain in the Arse...
Sore back? Try a slipped disc.
Oww!
Physio was good... gave me some odd stretches and I have another appointment on Friday and then on Monday...
Hope it gets better soon!
Oww!
Physio was good... gave me some odd stretches and I have another appointment on Friday and then on Monday...
Hope it gets better soon!
Monday, October 06, 2008
Pain in the Arse
I have been exercising... even bought a home gym. And on top of that I have been doing "kick boxing" for fitness with Step In To Life.
The only problem is last Thursday after the bushwalking, I twinged my siatic nerve doing all this and all weekend I have been hobbling around and swinging from feeling 'just ok' to in complete agony.
Sitting hurts, walking hurts.... woe is me!
This is worse than Man Flu!!!
The only problem is last Thursday after the bushwalking, I twinged my siatic nerve doing all this and all weekend I have been hobbling around and swinging from feeling 'just ok' to in complete agony.
Sitting hurts, walking hurts.... woe is me!
This is worse than Man Flu!!!
Friday, October 03, 2008
Bushwalking - Gladstone Lookout & Moya Point
Well, with the time on our hands, the kids on holidays and a desire to get out and see the area where we have lived for the past 11 years, we went on another bushwalk.
This time, we travelled up to Leura and using our Blue Mountains Bushwalking Guidebook, we parked at the Fairmont Resort and walked across the 14th tee (literally!) and dived into the bush.
2km later, we're standing on the top of the unfenced Gladstone Lookout and a massive drop below, but what a view!!
Then we pressed on a short distance to the other side of the bluff to Moya Point where we looked back onto Wentworth Falls.
We're going to do the Wentworth Falls walk soon, but its closed for upgrading until late October!
Pictures below!
The girls and I on the edge of Gladstone Lookout...
Me peering over the edge... very scary!
The view from Moya Point back towards Wentworth Falls
The girls having a rest at Moya Point!
This time, we travelled up to Leura and using our Blue Mountains Bushwalking Guidebook, we parked at the Fairmont Resort and walked across the 14th tee (literally!) and dived into the bush.
2km later, we're standing on the top of the unfenced Gladstone Lookout and a massive drop below, but what a view!!
Then we pressed on a short distance to the other side of the bluff to Moya Point where we looked back onto Wentworth Falls.
We're going to do the Wentworth Falls walk soon, but its closed for upgrading until late October!
Pictures below!
The girls and I on the edge of Gladstone Lookout...
Me peering over the edge... very scary!
The view from Moya Point back towards Wentworth Falls
The girls having a rest at Moya Point!Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Mad Light Bulb Giveaway!
A funny thing has happened over the past few days here in our suburb...
A whole bunch of Indians descended on our suburb, each with a fold up chair and one of those red/blue striped laundry bags. They then proceeded to sit out on the median strips around our suburb in the shade and I had no clue as to what they were doing.
Then on Friday, the door bell rang... and standing at the door was an Indian girl... and she offered me some spiel that she was from some sort of company and asked me how many energy saving lightbulbs I would need in the house? "Twenty?? Thirty??" she asked... Me, in a daze, said "what, are you giving me free lightbulbs? Why?" She then said, "Wait here, I will be back in five minutes" and then I asked her if I had to do anything for these lightbulbs.
She said "we have to take your name and details down on our computer". Nevermind how they powered their computers by sitting by the side of the road all day, I said "No way" and told her not to worry about it... she seemed genuinely dismayed, but relised that I wouldnt fall for her scam.
Then yesterday, the doorbell rings again... this time, the girls answer it expecting a neighbourhood kid, but then I hear the dreaded "Hi, is your mummy home?" and I head for the door.
Standing there was this nerdy looking guy with acne sporting a lime green polo shirt with some indiscernible logo and a crackling CB radio on his hip.
"Afternoon sir, I am from the Blah Blah company and I am offering to fit your house completely with our energy saving lightbulbs!"
I said, hang on... weren't you here on Friday. He is puzzled and then asked...
"Was it an Indian person?"
I answered in the affirmative...
"Well they're really dodgy" was his reply.
Stunned, I said "Well you're not to genuine sounding yourself and I said no to them and I will say no to you too... thanks" and then I shut the door.
Can I ask... why are people willing to give you a huge amount of energy saving lightbulbs? What's the catch?
A whole bunch of Indians descended on our suburb, each with a fold up chair and one of those red/blue striped laundry bags. They then proceeded to sit out on the median strips around our suburb in the shade and I had no clue as to what they were doing.
Then on Friday, the door bell rang... and standing at the door was an Indian girl... and she offered me some spiel that she was from some sort of company and asked me how many energy saving lightbulbs I would need in the house? "Twenty?? Thirty??" she asked... Me, in a daze, said "what, are you giving me free lightbulbs? Why?" She then said, "Wait here, I will be back in five minutes" and then I asked her if I had to do anything for these lightbulbs.
She said "we have to take your name and details down on our computer". Nevermind how they powered their computers by sitting by the side of the road all day, I said "No way" and told her not to worry about it... she seemed genuinely dismayed, but relised that I wouldnt fall for her scam.
Then yesterday, the doorbell rings again... this time, the girls answer it expecting a neighbourhood kid, but then I hear the dreaded "Hi, is your mummy home?" and I head for the door.
Standing there was this nerdy looking guy with acne sporting a lime green polo shirt with some indiscernible logo and a crackling CB radio on his hip.
"Afternoon sir, I am from the Blah Blah company and I am offering to fit your house completely with our energy saving lightbulbs!"
I said, hang on... weren't you here on Friday. He is puzzled and then asked...
"Was it an Indian person?"
I answered in the affirmative...
"Well they're really dodgy" was his reply.
Stunned, I said "Well you're not to genuine sounding yourself and I said no to them and I will say no to you too... thanks" and then I shut the door.
Can I ask... why are people willing to give you a huge amount of energy saving lightbulbs? What's the catch?
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