GFC: Take 2?

Its been about 2 years since the GFC started.

We've been quite lucky in Australia to have missed the brunt of it. Our employment took a small dip, consumer spending dipped (still is down), our savings have increased & our stock exchange took a few batterings thus lowering our super funds.

We tried to recover, stimulus packages were put together, interest rates were dropped & families started eating more at home.

It's been 2 years and we think it's all in the past ... but is it?

America is still having issues and worse than them is Greece.  Their economic woes continue,  jobs being cut, wages being lowered and now there is strong speculation that they will default on their loan.

With the prospect of the loan defaulting, it's going to greatly impact upon the markets within the EU.  Stocks and markets will be volatile and thus repercussions will be felt everywhere, including Australia. We are not immune, it is not over. 

My take on things?

The leadership under Papendreou is strong, however, it's not enough.  More needs to be done to get people working and producing cash flow within society. With interest rates already near 0%, the incentive you give to taxpayers is more stimulus payments in conjunction with investment in staples such as infrastructure & education. Tourism is where things could get interesting, so the Greek government should think of incentives to let the foreigners flood in.

From our side of things, I think the RBA have been very cautious (rightly so) while we sit and wait and see what is happening in the rest of the world. If they increased interest rates prematurely, we could have had some unnecessary early bumps.  Our stock market will continue to suffer while other regions are suffering and our currency against others will also faulter.

The whole world is still in such a precarious place right now, added to the GFC woes are environmental issues that have affected Japan, New Zealand and ourselves. The impact on these countries affects the world, especially compounding its affect on us.

There's still some way to go before we're out of the woods.

Sources:
http://ceoworld.biz/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/George-A-Papandreou.jpg
http://www.smh.com.au/business/sneeze-in-europe-can-give-a-a-cold-20110620-1gbuo.html

Poor Female Self Image

I found this on the back cover of the Sun Herald yesterday. (Sunday 5th June 2011).

Taking photoshop and editing too far .... How skinny DOES she have to be?
Skinny enough to dissolve her knees.  Really, look closely, she has no knees.

It's still blatently obvious that a normal human figure is repulsive on the cover (or back) of publications.
What's wrong with knees? I assume she has them, but I cannot see her patella, her knee dimples ... nothing.

Cat Calls = Female Limelight

Politicians are elected as OUR representatives but I don't remember electing any of them to be role model of sexism.

Today while the Senate was sitting, a Senator made a cat-call noise (a reeeow) suggesting an in-party fight.

Why is it when Senator David Bushby makes a cat-call, it's recipient, Senator Penny Wong (it's predominantly the female) is in the spotlight?
Why isn't David Bushby's face plastered all over the online news?
Why isn't his face flashed before us on the 6pm & 7 pm news?

Image taken from:
http://www.smh.com.au/

Role Model Fail

Beyonce has been in her second job for a while now. She is helping Michelle Obama on a campaign to reduce childhood obesity in the "Let's Move" program.

Re-making video clips to make it more fun & easier for the kids to follow her dance moves.  Great idea! 

Although, it's a case of do as I say, not as I do.  It's a shame that Beyonce cannot always 'move'.  

Beyonce was one of the hundreds of celebrities at the Met Gala last week.  She looked great but ... at what cost?

    

 

As you can see ... Beyonce wore a dress that was soooo tight, she could not move. She couldn't even climb up the stairs herself!

 

What message does this send to the kids? What message does it send to those who think they are too fat? What message does it send to those who look to her for fashion advice? Or to those who want to be like her? 

It's sending such a clear message that if you want to look beautiful, you loose your independence. 

 

Looking beautiful means you need help climbing up the stairs (even help going to the toilet). 

 

References:

http://www.letsmove.gov/

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/05/beyonce-dress-met-gala-michelle-obama.html

More popular than Coca-Cola?

As an average Australian, we are exposed to a barrage of logos over our life.  Generally, we know who are the biggest players from their advertising.  They're the Coca Cola's, McDonald's of the world.

I got some new ones. Ones that are EVERYWHERE!


It's not Facebook in the way you post your updates & add new friends.
It's Facebook the brand.

There is a good chance these days, if you see an ad (print, on tv or online), you will see an ad within an ad. That ad within the ad is a plug to log onto Facebook.



If you want more info about the company, these days, they are more likely to point you in the direction of Facebook than to their own website. "Like us on Facebook", "Keep up to date at facebook.com/(insertcompanyname)".

We take EFTPOS for granted. We all think, it's just a method of payment like credit card. Not so. Eftpos turns out is like Pay pal, set up and run by their own business.

Their logo is EVERYWHERE too.
So why am I all of a sudden stating the obvious?


Well, recently, EFTPOS have been releasing their own branded advertising, pointing out the fact that you save more of your own money with them.

They are not a synonymous with cash or card.  They are a business & like all of them, they disseminate their identity where ever they can, mainly at all points of sale.

I've heard statistics saying that the world Coca-Cola is the second or fifth most used word. It's word-of-mouth count is nothing compared to the others.  I don't have empirical evidence but I would like to say, I disagree.

Wanting to pay via EFTPOS or to Facebook stalk someone is now so ingrained in our everyday conversations & actions. People would easily say these multiple times a day. Now compare that to how many times a day do people say I want a Coca Cola?

These advertising behemoths better watch their backs!!



Logo taken from / References:
http://www.facebook.com/brandpermissions/logos.php#!/downloadtracker/download.php?rid=48&hash=6hFX2ZSJI3T_
http://www.043turning.com.au/images/uploads/INDEX/Eftpos.jpg
http://www.sefiani.com.au/news/eftpos-launches-first-advertising-campaign-in-23-year-history/

Policed State or Being Cautious?

I had a friend visit me from Europe last week.  So after a few observations (coming through customs, immigration, catching the train c/o Cityrail, walking around the CBD, seeing people go by, having a beer) he started with the questions.

Why do people riding bikes wear helmets?
Don't even some people drink in the street?
Why does everyone wait for the green man to flash?
Why do some of your police cars have a covered room at the back (paddy wagon)?
Why is Sydney so policed?

It got me thinking ... I agree, (at times) we are overly protected & policed. Is it to prevent lawsuits? Is it imposing rules as normal people don't have the sense to have common sense? Is it revenue raising? Is it to protect children?

Now there is talk that we need to have a licence to use the pokies or gamble.
I know its a problem for some people and their families but really, do we really need to go through more paperwork, more red tape, more government money wasted issuing and monitoring all this? What about those who occasionally go in and use the pokies? Why do we need another card in our wallet?

Why are we not empowered to look after ourselves? To take responsibility for our actions?
We can be advised or recommended to wear helmets but why is it enforced if someone chooses not to? There are millions of people around the world who leisurely cycle everyday ... without a helmet. Not every road has a set of crossing lights or sometimes they are not convenient.


At times I do think there is too much intervention from the government. People need to be informed but to be penalised for exerting their freedom (within reason)?  It's too much. If I liked fishing, I would need a fishing licence. If I want to use a chain saw, I need a chainsaw license. I want to use a boat - I would need a license for that too. 

We're dumbing down everything so people don't have to think about consequences.  We have to follow and do.  We're not shown how to take responsibility. Everyone blames everyone else. People need to be empowered to think for themselves and to think of the consequences.  What happened to survival of the fittest?  I think, I analyse, I take informed risks - shouldn't everyone be taught this?


Picture taken from:
http://www.howtovanish.com/images/surveillance-cameras.jpg
http://www.freefoto.com/images/1450/06/1450_06_23---Cycling--Holland-The-Netherlands_web.jpg?&k=Cycling%2C+Holland+-+The+Netherlands

Borders - How to get people in & buying

The WWF needs to add a new endangered species to its list, the book store.
Borders and Angus & Robertson going into voluntary liquidation, closing so many of their stores & now selling off everything in their physical stores.
It's a shame, we're losing an icon.

I love going into Borders - heading over to Gloria Jeans with a stack of magazines to flip through while I sip my mocha chiller. Good for me however, clearly not helping Borders with their financial troubles.


In my view, this is where Borders has gone wrong & what they could do to improve.

• Cheaper books & they need to be competitive. Dymocks, Co-Op book shops & the Independents are going relatively well and books are now available for much cheaper in Target, Big W & Kmart.
• Engage more with the community. Have more authors dropping in, book signings, children's reading time, establish or facilitate book clubs.
• Send out more tailored email communications. It's currently sent out as one size fits all. Inform us what is going on at our local stores, what are the big sellers of the week, let us tailor our mail to know what new Sci-Fi or Biographies are coming out.
• Attach coupons to our membership/loyalty cards - don't make us waste paper and print out the coupon.
• Don't diversify your range to include home wares & gifts. Stick to Books/Movies/Music/Magazines, cut the stationery lines.

Photo taken from:
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/02/17/1226007/709341-borders-bookstore.jpg