Thursday, August 31, 2006
I'd love to give, but...
I wish I could have more confidence in charities. I wish that I could know for certain that 90% of what I give has a direct benefit, and only 10% is used for administration.
I have worked for charities where only 5% of donations actually filter through to where the giver wants them to go.
I have just read in BRW that in Australia 600 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year - and that there are 20 charities here to help them. That 20 should be 1. If these were for-profit corporations they would have merged long ago.
Then we have Madonna asking us to give to African children, even though:
I have worked for charities where only 5% of donations actually filter through to where the giver wants them to go.
I have just read in BRW that in Australia 600 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year - and that there are 20 charities here to help them. That 20 should be 1. If these were for-profit corporations they would have merged long ago.
Then we have Madonna asking us to give to African children, even though:
The fact that orphans at a planned care centre in Malawi will be taught a curriculum based on Spirituality For Kids, a group linked to the Kabbalah school of mysticism to which Madonna adheres, could add to the cynicism.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Bad snacks now Good for you
According to an American magazine (definitely looks like American food...), these formerly "bad for you" snacks are now good:
- chocolate bars
- coconut
- sour cream
- alcohol
- pork rinds
- beef jerky
- chocolate bars
- coconut
- sour cream
- alcohol
- pork rinds
- beef jerky
Friday, August 25, 2006
Caught with 50,000 dope plants - and escape a jail term!
A doctor convicted for growing almost 50 000 marijuana plants avoided a prison sentence on Thursday after analysis found his dope was a dud.
...The state medical tribunal has already revoked Katelaris' licence for three years for using marijuana and distributing it to patients. More...
That's a lot of effort spent growing non-THC plants. But if they were for his patients (must have a lot of patients), then perhaps karma has saved him from prison
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Make your car longer - add a toilet seat!
It's designed, I presume, for being out in the wilderness on your own. Called the Bumper Dumper. Real. Costs $US60
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
$50/mo. fees for a Basic Savings Account?
OK, to be fair, you either need to have a min. of $10K in your account, or the monthly service fee is $10. Many folk would make sure they avoid that fee by keeping $10K in their account, without realising that $10K can earn $50/mo. at 6% interest.
The NAB Investment Cash Manager pays 5.75% on the portion of your balance over 500K, less for lesser balances, but zero percent for the $0-$9999 portion of your balance.
Q. What do you get for the $50?
A. 10 free transactions and an optional overdraft facility
AVOID
The NAB Investment Cash Manager pays 5.75% on the portion of your balance over 500K, less for lesser balances, but zero percent for the $0-$9999 portion of your balance.
Q. What do you get for the $50?
A. 10 free transactions and an optional overdraft facility
AVOID
Monday, August 21, 2006
E & Dope: Not as bad as ciggies & alcohol
The UK Science and Technology Select Committee has assessed the actual social and physical harm they cause, of 20 legal and illegal stimulants (based on scientific evidence).
The 5 that cause the most harm are: heroin, cocaine, barbiturates, street methadone & alcohol. Tobacco comes in at 7, cannibis at 8, and Ecstasy comes last.
One could argue all day about what categories (primarily used to determine legal punishment of users & traffickers) should be used for each, and why..... But the most obvious is surely that Ecstasy should be downgraded from A to C, at the very least. Especially when you account for the large number of users out there.
Monday, August 14, 2006
If you are a celebrity...
...make sure you look good 100% of the time, from all angles. Unlike Mr Val Kilmer (45)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wendy Rule has a new Video Clip
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Karmasheetra
KarmasheetraBrilliant idea for a wedding gift - a bedsheet that has all the Karma Sutra positions marked out on it...
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Privatised Telecos - Not Benefiting The Public
Australia has the slowest broadband in the western world (maybe NZ is slower...). If our Telco was owned by the government, and run as a public service rather than a "every aspect of our business must be individually profitable", we'd have a nationwide super-high-speed optic network.
But instead:
Has a study ever been done to see, in retrospect, if privatisation was a good thing?
But instead:
PLANS to build a national high-speed internet network in Australia are in disarray after Telstra yesterday formally pulled the plug on negotiations to build the $4 billion system.And, they are scrapping hundreds of pay phones - reason: not profitable.
Telstra's decision leaves most Australian businesses and households mired in the communications dark ages, with broadband internet speeds among the slowest in the developed world.
Has a study ever been done to see, in retrospect, if privatisation was a good thing?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Britney Spears: Meth, E, Pot or how she always is??
Everyone who has ever purchased a Britney product should be forced to watch this video of her!
"My jaw hurts" could be a sign that she is on an E.
If I was an American I'm sure I'd have seen her interviewed a few times, and I'd be able to tell if this is what she is like normally...
"My jaw hurts" could be a sign that she is on an E.
If I was an American I'm sure I'd have seen her interviewed a few times, and I'd be able to tell if this is what she is like normally...
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Vale Arthur Lee (1945–2006)
Only saw him play the one time, April 2003 in Melbourne Australia, but definitely one of the top 10 gigs of my life, and I cannot imagine anyone other performer from the 60's being that amazing in the new century.
Sad to hear of his life cut short by leukemia, his talent will be much missed.
Sad to hear of his life cut short by leukemia, his talent will be much missed.
