I voted “Green” in the senate. Not because I like the “Greens” but because I wish a “hostile” senate upon any of the two major parties who may gain power in the lower house. The senate is supposedly a house of review. Party politics prevent this, so I choose the “hostile” option, to “keep the bastard’s honest”.

I am fed up with “Party Politics” and local “Members of Parliament” who are nothing more than party hacks. Nothing gets done or driven within the electorate. I am part of a “swinging seat”. Looks like it will continue to “swing” between each major party every election until more voters start to vote outside the party lines. I’m all for a “good independent”  in my electorate.

Party politics lead to an election campaign bereft of policy or direction. Visits to various “at risk” electorates and a “pork barrel” or two, for good measure.

Previous Governments have given us austerity, social decline/divide, sale of tax payer assets, scare mongering for political gain and encouragement of divisiveness and a widening divide between the have’s and have nots.

They have also bought us the invocation of the ANZUS treaty and involvement in war as a result of the actions of 12 men directed and funded by a small body of radicals operating as a religion, based on scribblings from ancient times, that somehow have credibility in modern times.

More current Governments have tried to restore some social conscience and offer a major national infrastructure program in the form of a National Broadband Network. Unfortunately this has been combined with activities of minority groups, these also having gained their power and influence from (different) scribblings from ancient times, in wishing to impose their puritan beliefs (under the guise of child protection) in the form of censorship and it’s associated social evil’s, on the majority.

Economics has come to the for. Spending more than you earn has become an issue. Making a profit of an excess nature was deemed taxable (but only for mining companies), but then big money (read mining companies) conducted a scare campaign of their own. This campaign should have supported the need to tax these companies, as they obviously had too much money. The social implications of their willingness to conduct this type of political campaign, is also food for thought. Money is Power!

To see what the mining industry does go for a drive. Do you see high quality divided roads to and from major mining projects? You will see the heavy vehicle traffic, the commuting traffic, you wont see the divided high quality road or high speed rail. A private airfield perhaps, to facilitate the fly in-fly out of workers. The value is minimal (when the profits are considered). The environmental and social impacts are immense. There is a balance to be achieved.

Wasting money was also an issue. In this area much was made of school building programs, home insulation programs and others. All the while the Australian Defence Force needed to use both shoulders in it’s energetic throwing away of billions of dollars. Failed, partially completed, not yet delivered (well behind time) or simply parked, because it was not working (submarines), the billions disappeared and will continue to do so with F-35′s, Wedgetail and new submarines in proposal. Lets not forget the mini aircraft carriers, so that Admiral’s can go to sea in style and the far to few, Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD).

Australia designs and builds the world’s fastest ships. The ADF believes these are not capable of being a Warship? We also have a coastal shipping industry populated with foreign ships and ever increasing foreign crews. There slow and old as well, in most cases.

Defence Ministers are consumed as rapidly as the tax payer dollars, whilst the working soldier is over worked and under equipped, whilst trying to protect our borders and natural resources from abuse and plunder, whilst dealing with umpteen government departments with vested interests. Those sent to war are kept silent by the rules of military discipline and law (most still current from around the 12th century) combined with a sense of duty about their true working conditions and equipment levels.

Border security is deemed suitable for private enterprise (Coast Watch) and a government department (Customs) that seems to behave like a coastguard. Border security must be the province of the Police and Military. Private enterprise and government departments should not play leading roles. Border (National) security is not something that should be driven by accountants and a spreadsheet.

The country has no real industries. Dig and export is a finite capability. Level playing fields and free trade agreements all benefit others. Country areas are in decline. We import an ever increasing amount of our food (stupidity at it’s best) and allow farmers to be payed minimal prices for produce or have their livelihoods destroyed by subsidised imports.

Politicians encourage scare campaigns about invasion by “boat people”. Others shout for compassion and understanding. A “populate of perish” mentality once again arises (history lesson please).

Public education continues to be compromised by a lack of funding, with no reduction in taxpayer funding of the private schools. “Privatised Education” appears and demonstrates that the motive was really all about making money when the “flavour of Australia” takes an international dive and Government policy requires education to actually occur, rather than the pursuit of jobs and permanent residency, by persons who’s only motive is one of self.

Meanwhile you and I struggle with inadequate, failing or non existent infrastructure, as we realise that governments have failed to provide, what is an essential part of their duties, in this critical area. To cover their neglect privatisation is the agenda, so that politicians can feel comfortable telling us that it is all the fault of private companies, with a view that it will not affect their vote. These same companies are then subsidised to provide a service, and make a profit, using yours and my dollar!

The global financial melt down proves that ethics and honesty have nothing to do with the pursuit of money and profit. The same people who instituted the problem continue to pay themselves big incomes and bonuses and believe, to this very day, that they still have credibility and that there advice should be followed (some politicians still do, so watch who their advisors are).

I have difficulty believing that a country needs to make a profit (a budget surplus). If this occurs surely the people are being over taxed? Is there something wrong with going into 10-20-30 years of debt if what you do with that debt, will last for at least twice that time and improve that living standards of the people and the amenity of the land in which we live. No debt means cash up front. Higher taxes.

This is just the tip of the issues in this country. I am pleased to see that people power has once again proven it’s worth. The recent Federal elections reminded politicians, their minders and power brokers that real power, despite their best efforts, still remains with the people.

Interesting times. I think I will be off to the ballot box once again sooner rather than later.

Paul

Sadly the political, policy, floundering continues. I wonder how long before Federal Politicians of both parties realise that many of their “Policies” do not have a favourable view amongst the majority of voters. Perhaps the loss of touch will only be driven home at the ballot box?

Paul

Paul

Basically if you have a “death grip”, “sweaty palms” and possibly left handed (a “minority group” combination if ever there was one) although any hand, with the previous combination will do, it is possible to achieve a signal loss of a supposedly substantial nature.

With record sales of iPhone 4, when released anywhere in the world, indicating obvious satisfied customers, the tech media frenzy (in some supposedly important circles) continues (USA driven of course).

Apple has felt the need to make a media release on this subject “Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4“. Have a read via the link. Daring Fireball (John Gruber) a BLOG for which I have some respect has done a wonderful “to English” translation of Apple’s PR speak in “Translation From Apples Unique Dialect of PR Speak……..“

Read the Apple one first and then the Daring Fireball one.

Finally, any issues anyone may have re the above, is addressed (fixed) by the simple addition of an accessory cover, such as Apples “Bumper” case. Perhaps the next release of a 3G Apple product may be into a better performing 3G network area, such as many Asian/Oceania and European locations.

Enjoy your iPhone 4. I look forward to mine.

Paul

iBooks also available in APP store (AUS). Folders are a great addition along with single mailbox and mail threading. I am looking forward to the new iPhone availability in Australia. The 3G is just about out of contract so a new iPhone 4 is on the horizon.

Paul

As stated above I am not a “FLASH” fan. Crashes in windows when web browsing are often “FLASH” related. I have no current interest in ‘FLASH” heavy sites (I will not browse them) and “FLASH” on the MAC is usually slow and sometime problematic.

Current tech/purchase suggestion. If you are thinking of purchasing a USB 3G “wireless” dongle, the better option will be a MiFi unit. Particularly if you are considering a WiFi only iPad.

MiFi questions to ask

• Does this unit present as WiFi hub when being charged. Some do not.
• What frequencies does this unit support – there are a number of GSM/3G frequencies used around the world depending on the provider and the countries frequency allocations – some MiFi units are CDMA (USA) specific frequencies. Not all frequencies are supported by all units.
• Purchase one that is unlocked – this allows you to put a sim from any (compatible) provider into the MiFi unit – if you are not a “outside your country” traveller a locked one from your favourite provider will work fine.

Tethering may seem attractive but reports suggest that a MiFi device offers better performance.

Have a read of the links above (all WiKi) for good info as well. Currently the WiFi offers on these devices are up to 802.1g only. Expect 802.1n soon. For most current small devices g will be adequate.

Paul

• Surface operations only OR
• No submergence below 50 metres OR for more than 60 minutes

Who knows!!! Of the six built at least one and possibly two will never be fully operational (capable of going to war). The ADF’s inability to keep two submarines fully operational at any given time is of great concern. More parked, broken, defence equipment.

The credibility of ADF management is very much in question. Far too much equipment is delayed, not working as expected, faulty. With the home grown list of ADF equipment/projects that are compromised in some way or have exploded in cost or actually failed and /or failed to work growing. The RAAF even leases commercial in flight refuelling capabilities so that it can fly it’s fighters any real distance. Yep the KC30′s are yet to actually show any signs of arriving. “Wedgetail” is suffering from blurred vision, but has established that it can take flight and land. The F-35 continues to make promises and fulfils none, except that it is going to be very very costly when the price is actually worked out and not the subject of yet another “promise”.

My real concern is with those that are expected to do the job. There is no doubt, in my mind, that close to home, the submarines are perhaps not as “confidence inspiring” to sail in as they should be. The Patrol boats are being over worked, along with the crews, in Australia’s appalling efforts at “border protection”. A phone call announcing your illegal arrival is indicative of poor border protection.

Our men and women posted overseas as “peace keepers” and in “combat zones” are protected from public scrutiny, as to equipment levels and working conditions, under the guise of “operational requirements” and secrecy. Much of this is unnecessary and designed to stop genuine and concerned scrutiny of the treatment of our “working military”.

Government sits on its hands. Not game to take the ADF “by the throat” and “give it a good shake”. Concerned that National Security may be compromised and that Government should not interfere with the military.

“National Security” is compromised. Please feel free to interfere.

As a tax payer I am over the moon as I watch millions to billions being wasted on or promised to, yet unpriced/unproved equipment. It’s “Pie in the Sky” stuff. Trouble is it’s yours and my “pie” and the “sky” does not seem to have any limits. Concepts of reality and real “National Security” needs have escaped and been forgotten. A dream is being lived. It needs to come to an end and be replaced by a large dose of reality.

Media reports show that Senator Conroy is taking on the “Big Boys” again…. ‘Google Creepy” !!!!  Really! I can see my neighbourhoods WiFi systems from my house computer. Nothing ‘Creepy” about that. Standard stuff if you run a WiFi network of your own.

Then I can go for a walk with my iPhone and check out all the neighbourhood WiFi connections with a small APP. If you run a WiFi at home make sure you secure it. That’s all you need to do. The Info about it is available to all who want it. The security is meant to stop misuse.

Poor old Senator Conroy…with his “Internet Censorship” on the rocks (it’s a vote killer and a technical “non event”, but costly to you and me)…he now again “displays his capabilities” by entering into a field that is again, far beyond the expertise of him or (obviously) his advisors.

It is very obvious that Facebook and Googles user do a better job of managing their relevant excesses or slackness than any politician.

Unfortunately doggedly determined , poorly focused men in positions of power, are dangerous, in this case to yours and my internet freedoms. 

WordPress was installed for the ppidau domain at my host and whilst there I also created a blog. subdomain for 1400gtr site.

Twitter integration, comments via DISQUS as plugins plus some anti spam devices and the blogs were basic and functioning.

WordPress, my blogging software of choice, is a nice piece of blogging software. Large numbers of themes (how it looks) with various features and a similarly large number of plugins, make for much exploring and testing.

WordPress is easy to use and manage. It works very well with software packages such as MarsEdit (this entry created and submitted from MarsEdit), MacJournal. Both of which I own and use.

MarsEdit is a recent purchase and for blogging is very nice. WordPress also has available and iPhone APP which I can use when mobile. This APP also handles multiple WordPress BLOG’s.

Having spent a few hours over a few days sorting out and organising my WEB activities I can know get into a little posting and R and R.

Paul