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Bad Things They Do To Our Food-Factory Farms, Subsidies, Regulations, Genetic Modification, World Domination, Control Of Food Supply & More
Best Answer alternativista, 04 July 2011 - 10:04 AM
Anyway, You should see the response I got from Senator Cornyn. You can't even tell what it's about. Just a bunch of Republican party line BS about spending and deficits.
Both my senators supported continuing subsidizing Big Oil. You can bet they'll keep subsidizing 'big food.'
Go to the full post
Posted 10 June 2012 - 10:08 AM
The litter includes their droppings and spilled food. And their food includes beef products. http://www.npr.org/2...e-meat-industry
Posted 12 June 2012 - 11:38 AM
Posted 19 June 2012 - 10:27 AM
Why Are Twinkies Cheaper Than Carrots?
If you want to eat healthfully, you have to fight an uphill battle. Why are government subsidies pushing in the wrong direction?
Government Policy Consistently Favors Big Agribusiness
As I describe in my new book No Happy Cows, agrichemical companies, factory farms and junk food manufacturers are quite happy with things the way they are. Thanks to their lobbying clout, government policies consistently favor the financial interests of these special interests over public health, even though the result is trillions of dollars in additional health care expenses.
Here's an example: In just the last two years, 24 states have considered legislation that would place a tax on soft drinks. These "soda taxes" would discourage consumption of drinks high in sugar, thus reducing obesity and health care costs. And they would also raise money that could be used to subsidize healthier foods. But in every single state, the legislation has been defeated. PepsiCo Inc., the Coca-Cola Company, and the American Beverage Association have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to determine the outcome.
"In the political arena, one side is winning the war on child obesity," a new Reuters report on the food lobby begins. "The side with the fattest wallets.".
Full article: http://www.alternet....er_than_carrots
Posted 10 July 2012 - 01:27 PM
Posted 17 July 2012 - 08:45 AM
And check out this article. Apparently genetic modification of several babies took place early last decade:
Posted 31 July 2012 - 08:38 AM
And another one about the Bill Gates and his foundation and all the funds they give to genetic engineering and other harmful industries:
Edited by alternativista, 31 July 2012 - 08:44 AM.
Posted 01 August 2012 - 01:36 PM
GE Crops have Failed to Live Up to Promises
As pointed out by Senator Sanders, GE crops have failed to live up to promises—they do not provide greater yields, and they're certainly not better for the environment. According to Ronnie Cummins with the Organic Consumers Association, use of broad-spectrum herbicides is estimated to triple as herbicide-resistant crops continue to be planted around the globe. As for the promise that GE crops will help feed a starving world by producing higher yields, consider the results published in the following reports:
- A 2006 report issued by the USDA6 stated, "Currently available GE crops do not increase the yield potential of a hybrid variety. In fact, yield may even decrease if the varieties used to carry the herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistance genes are not the highest yielding cultivars."
- In the only side-by-side study comparing yields of RoundUp Ready (RR) soy and their non-GE soy7, RR soy had a 10 percent lower yield than the non-GE soy.
- A 2007 study8 on RR soy confirmed earlier results, concluding that RR soy had a 10 percent lower yield than its non-GE sister lines due to the fact that the RR soya could not adequately absorb manganese from the soil.
- In 2009, a study published by the Union of Concerned Scientists entitled Failure to Yield9, concluded that: "GE soybeans have not increased yields, and GE corn has increased yield only marginally on a crop- wide basis. Overall, corn and soybean yields have risen substantially over the last 15 years, but largely not as result of the GE traits. Most of the gains are due to traditional breeding or improvement of other agricultural practices." [Emphasis mine]
Study on the badness of the WGA lectin in wheat. It's usually lectins that they are swapping around when the engineer supposedly pest resistant crops. Because that's why the lectins are in the seeds in the first place, to deter critters from eating them. They are bad for you.
Antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Incorporation of N-acetylglucosamine-specific agglutinins from wheat germ (Triticum aestivum; WGA), thorn apple (Datura stramonium) or nettle (Urtica dioica) rhizomes in the diet at the level of 7 g/kg reduced the apparent digestibility and utilization of dietary proteins and the growth of rats, with WGA being the most damaging. As a result of their binding and endocytosis by the epithelial cells of the small intestine, all three lectins were growth factors for the gut and interfered with its metabolism and function to varying degrees. WGA was particularly effective; it induced extensive polyamine-dependent hyperplastic and hypertrophic growth of the small bowel by increasing its content of proteins, RNA and DNA. Furthermore, an appreciable portion of the endocytosed WGA was transported across the gut wall into the systemic circulation, where it was deposited in the walls of the blood and lymphatic vessels. WGA also induced the hypertrophic growth of the pancreas and caused thymus atrophy.
Although the transfer of the gene of WGA into crop plants has been advocated to increase their insect resistance, as the presence of this lectin in the diet may harm higher animals at the concentrations required to be effective against most pests, its use in plants as natural insecticide is not without health risks for man.
Edited by alternativista, 01 August 2012 - 01:41 PM.
Posted 24 September 2012 - 09:06 PM
Posted 01 October 2012 - 09:24 AM
Posted 02 October 2012 - 05:28 AM
Posted 08 January 2013 - 09:56 AM
In addition to the devastating effects should these fish get loose into the wild, there's these changes in the substances in the meat you would be eating:
Two years ago, GMO expert Jeffrey Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology, called the potential approval of genetically engineered salmon "a move that will go down in history as one of the most asinine and dangerous ever made by our government." According to Smith, evidence5 suggests the buffed-up salmon might have higher levels of a potentially cancer promoting hormone, IGF-1, more antibiotics, and more of potentially life-threatening allergen(s).
Also, illustrates one more example on how in these studies they study something completely different from what we/the planet/whatever will be exposed to--the fish studied are not the same (grown in the same conditions) as those that will be raised for food.
Forbes and Slate magazine amongst others have investigated and question integrity of FDA for blocking release of preliminary documents until recently.
Obama's Science Commitment, FDA Face Ethics Scrutiny in Wake of GMO Salmon Fiasco
Questions are emerging about the breakdown of the federal government's science integrity process in the wake of the Food & Drug Administration's long-delayed release of its approval of the first genetically modified animal for human consumption.
The case for GM crops, such as it is, is based almost entirely on industry-funded research. This research is never peer-reviewed before it is seen by regulators who determine the safety of a GM crop for release or consumption, and who never evaluate whether a crop achieves its stated benefits. Even well after a crop is released, only a tiny fraction of these dossier studies are ever published — and they cannot be replicated by independent scientists because only those with a special relationship to the developing company have access to research raw materials. There are virtually no proper toxicology or safety studies, and studies that are flagged up as safety studies are often nothing more than short-term studies designed to show nutritional equivalence. Because these studies cannot be repeated or verified, they should be rejected out of hand by the scientific community. Instead, they are accepted as valid.
Edited by alternativista, 08 January 2013 - 12:44 PM.
Posted 08 January 2013 - 05:27 PM
Posted 18 January 2013 - 04:02 PM
Also, you may have heard about Peak Oil, which many believe we've already reached and you better be making plans for things to change. But have you heard of peak phosphorous. A mineral used in artificial fertilizers without which large scale industrial farming is not possible. Some estimate we'll reach it in Peak Phosphorus in 2030. http://en.wikipedia....Peak_phosphorus
Posted 26 January 2013 - 06:19 PM
Interesting article from a while back discussing importance of non-GMO labeling. Basically how organic farms can still find GMO corn in the feed for their livestock
Posted 05 February 2013 - 02:05 PM
So, apparently, during a drought, stunted plants take up excessive levels of nitrogen and other chemicals (like arsenic) in the artificial fertilizers they dump on them. And they dump a lot on corn.
Posted 19 February 2013 - 11:46 AM
So, did you know FDA regulations prohibit any reference to scientific studies by manufactures of a dietary supplement or by food producers, regarding its health benefits? In the FDA's view, even providing a link to a study on a website converts a healthy fruit or nut into an unapproved drug.
Mercola says this about it:
I've received many warning letters from the FDA for saying things that are contrary to their recommendations. I've not been accused of saying things that are untrue, or in some way deceiving or harming people — I've been warned to stop saying things that are true but against the FDA's regulations. The message is, you can only say something they approve of, and whether it's truthful or not is beside the point.
However, Congressman Chaffetz and other representatives have introduced H.R. 1364, the Free Speech About Science Act (FSAS)5, a bill that would enable supplement companies to cite peer reviewed science.
This is from an article about how the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), formerly known as American Dietetic Association (ADA), is trying to use the courts to block anyone who expresses views or facts that don't conform to their beliefs. http://articles.merc...mpaign=20130219 Such as many Paleo gurus.
Edited by alternativista, 19 February 2013 - 11:47 AM.
Posted 25 February 2013 - 04:12 PM
Indian farmers smash crop yield records without GMOs or chemicals.
Using an intensive technique called System of Rice [or root] Intensification (SRI). It's applicable to other crops, vegetables, not just grains. This technique also uses less water in the rice fields.
It's techniques like this and water conserving and rainwater harvesting techniques that will feed the world. Not chemicals and patented seeds.
The thing is, techniques like this are more useful to small farmers, and not so much to Big Ag.
Much of [the criticism of the technique] comes from a belief among many scientists and most western governments that the developing world must adopt western-style industrial ag techniques in order to produce enough food. But that view is a fantasy: Even today, as the Guardian article observes, 93 percent of Bihar's 100 million residents are subsistence farmers.
It's delusional to expect that Bihar and the vast populations of Africa, Indonesia, and China will transform into western-style economies with western-style population distributions. Billions of people across the globe will remain subsistence farmers far into the future; what they require are farming techniques that can improve yields even modestly. Forcing regions that don't have passable roads (much less electrification) to rely on the grace of multinational organizations to supply seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals seems borderline criminal.
SRI appears to offer an acceptable alternative for a variety of crops, including rice, potatoes, wheat, corn, beans, eggplant, onions, carrots, sugar cane, and even tomatoes.
Personally, I don't think developing nations should adopt many of western ways. They should skip all our mistakes.
Here's another article on the same subject with very good commentary on the problem with 'western ways' when it comes to agriculture and the determination to spend fortunes screwing with genes. http://www.occupymon...ntensification/
Edited by alternativista, 25 February 2013 - 04:33 PM.
Posted 25 February 2013 - 08:53 PM
Indian farmers smash crop yield records without GMOs or chemicals.
Using an intensive technique called System of Rice [or root] Intensification (SRI). It's applicable to other crops, vegetables, not just grains. This technique also uses less water in the rice fields.
It's techniques like this and water conserving and rainwater harvesting techniques that will feed the world. Not chemicals and patented seeds.
The thing is, techniques like this are more useful to small farmers, and not so much to Big Ag.
This is really inspiring to see this. Feels like the world is slowly moving in the right direction, which is away from Monsanto and GMOs
Posted 23 April 2013 - 08:28 AM
CEO of Nestle doesn't believe access to water is a human right.
Posted 23 April 2013 - 08:32 PM
Hah! Yeah i read about that recently and...i would say i'm shocked, except...i'm not. At all. Only a little bit.
These people never cease to amaze me with their greediness. People don't realize how truly corrupt CEOs of large companies are. They become so self absorbed, and so obsessed with money...they could give a f#ck less about humanity. It's rare to find one that doesn't operate like this
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Allergy and Immunology: Referral Directory
Physician Contacts
Drew Bird, M.D. - Food Allergy
M. Teresa (Maite) De La Morena, M.D. - Immunology
Nurse Practitioners
Maria Crain, RN, APN (Food Allergy)
Van Nguyen, RN, MSN, CPNP (Allergy)
Key Contacts
Vicki Dennis
Program ManagerMarcos Martinez
Program AssistantSabrina Tristan
Description of Services
Immunology diagnosis
- Agammoglobulinemia (Bruton/XLA, AR)
- Antibody Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Cartilage Hair Hypoplasia
- Chediak Higashi Syndrome
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease
- Combined Immunodeficiency (CID)
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- Complement Deficiencies
- Delayed separation of umbilical cord
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Griscelli Syndrome
- Hyper IGE
- Hyper IGM
- Hypogammaglobulinemia
- IGA Deficiency
- Immunodeficiency
- Periodic Fever
- Primary Immunolodeficiency (PID)
- Recurrent Fever
- Recurrent Infections
- Recurrent Thrush
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome
- X-Linked Lymphoproliferotive Syndrome (XLP)
Allergy diagnosis
- Asthma
- Allergic rhinitis
- Food allergy
- Drug allergy
- Stinging Insect Allergy
- Atopic dermatitis
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
- Chronic urticaria
- Chronic sinusitis
Procedures performed problems diagnosed:
- Allergen skin testing
- Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots)
- Pulmonary function testing
- Drug desensitization
- Food and drug challenges
- Anti-IgE administration
- Immunologlobulin administration
- Patch testing
- Immune laboratory studies
Information for referral sources:
- A written referral from physician or referral source is required.
- Pre-authorization is required by some insurance plans.
- Patient instructions for specific tests will be provided when the appointment is scheduled.
- To avoid unnecessary testing, have the family bring relevant medical records, test results and X-rays to the appointment.
- Services are provided in close cooperation with the patient's referring physician.
- Diagnosis, evaluation and recommended treatment information is provided promptly to the referring physician.
Please provide the following when calling to schedule a patient for a diagnostic examination:
- Patient name and date of birth
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- Insurance/referral information
- Physician clinical findings or symptoms which caused the patient to visit physician
Why Childrens Medical Center
- The Children's Allergy and Immunology department provides specialized treatment of the pediatric patient.
- Physicians are certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and by the American Board of Pediatrics.
- We provide specialized evaluation for pediatric patients who are difficult to diagnose.
- We provide a multidisciplinary educational approach to allergy-immunology patients.
Related ListingsAsthma Education
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subset: commoncrawl


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Beer brands rapped for implying alcohol improves popularity
An advert for an alcohol industry initiative to kickstart beer sales in the UK has been banned for suggesting drinking alcohol makes people more popular.
The "Let there be beer" advert, which launched this summer, cuts between three scenes around a barbeque gone wrong, a stressed office worker and a young man attempting to impress his girlfriend's father. The characters eventually overcome the different scenarios following the introduction of beer to the chorus of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from "The Sound of Music".
A complainant challenged the TV spot for promoting alcohol as having therapeutic qualities capable of changing behavior as well as implying that it was key to improving people's popularity.
The Coalition of UK Brewers, which represents the ad's creators AB InBev, Carlsberg UK, Heineken UK, Miller Brands and Molson Coors, dismissed the concerns and said it was meant to be an "exaggerated interpretation of the real world". It claimed the scenes attempted to identify situations where beer might be a "credible alternative' to other drinks.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) did not agree and ruled the TV spot implied drinking beer could people overcome problems such as a larger workload and emotional stress. Despite certain scenes showing beer being a source of refreshment, the regulator said other scenarios promoted beer as being key to the success of social occasions.
It comes a week after the advertising watchdog cleared a separate product placement campaign from the organisation that featured beer brands being paired with food during ad breaks on Channel 4.
Readers' comments (3)
Are you serious? Who are these people!!
To me, this advert is simply an exaggeration of the real world! In various circles, more people than not look forward to that glass of wine or pint of beer after a hard week at the office. Over-indulging in any kind of alcohol is bad for you, but to complain that an advert depicting people looking forward to a glass of beer after a stressful situation is just ridiculous.
To whoever the complainant was, please, do go get yourself a life.
IF you really wanted a picture of the real world then lets have some car crashes, some A&E hospital shots, some homelessness shots, domestic violence, the doctor, MP, MD, school kids getting drunk and lying in the gutter.
Advertising one of the biggest killers on TV should be banned. The 'real' world has been manipulated by the drinks industry for too long. Society needs to change.
What they don't mention is the complainant was an offshoot of Alcohol Concern - the Youth Alcohol Advertising Council - with no member of the public complaining at all.


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Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience Symposium
September 4, 2013
The first annual PEN department symposium will be held on September 4, 2013. This is a continuation of the 2012 faculty/student retreat.
This all day event will be a student-centric focused on showcasing the ongoing projects being performed by our graduate students and our postdoctoral fellows.
There will be opportunities to present either a poster presentation OR a oral presentation. Graduate students who have completed their comprehensive exam (are PhD candidates) will have first priority for oral presentations but can elect to share a poster instead. Post-docs will also be able to indicate their preference (poster or oral). Graduate students that have not completed their comprehensive exams will be able to present a poster. Oral presentations will be either 12 minutes or 15 minutes (plus Q&A) and further details will be given when the program is arranged. The poster session will be 2 hours. Awards will be given for posters and for oral presentations.
The entire department is encouraged to attend and participate in the question and answer part of the oral presentations, visit the posters, and join the dinner and award presentation following the symposium.
Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Fellow abstracts must be submitted by on-line form by August 20, 2013. Review Abstract Submission Guidelines for details.
For more information, contact
Nicole Haverland


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Inspired by Travel: Adding Natural Beauty to Your Home
One of my favorites sources of inspiration for decor is travel. Each time I come back from a trip, I am filled with inspiration and the memory of the sights, smells, colors and vibe of the place I visited. Going to Morocco I was inspired by the contrast of exuberant color in the form of tiles and rugs and the clean lines of the architecture and smooth white walls.
This summer on a road trip through the Southwest, I was enamored with the natural shape of the earth in the many breathtaking canyons and plateaus. The crystals I saw everywhere reminded me of that some of the most beautiful sculpture is shaped by nature.
Living in a city can make a person feel disconnected from nature but the things I have brought home from some of my travels remind me of how stunning and special our planet really is and how important it is to protect it.
What have you brought home that inspires you?
(Image: 1. Liana Walker; 2. The Brick House; 3. Camilla Styles 4. Vogue 5. and 6. Liana Walker)
11 Comments
I've traveled around Asia a lot... A few of the bigger, more attractive pieces I've found are on my walls. I have a child's kimono I got at a flea market in Japan hanging over my bed. It's slate gray with a hawk/eagle, some fans, and a pine branch on it. On another wall I have a hand-painted scroll of a dragon in the clouds directly from an artist in China. And on a third wall I have a very wispy-looking painting of the Indian god Ganesha in blues, and a beaded string of Ganesha heads with a bell on the end, both from markets in India. Hanging from one of my lights is a colorful fish made out of bamboo fragments that one of my students in Thailand made and gave to me. I also have a bunch of paintings and prints from Japan, some beautiful hand-dyed Indian bedsheets, silk saris, and loads of other things sitting around, waiting for a time when I have space to display them.
While I love rocks and gems and was raised going rockhounding, I would feel weird decorating with crystals like in the first picture. Cool rocks, but every time I looked at them I'd just just feel like I was sharing my house with some absurd crystal healer. Other than that, I have a few fossils I like to keep around, both ones I found and ones I got as a kid going to rock & gem shows.
This is like a collection of shots from my house. Exactly.
I love the beauty of nature in found objects.....driftwood, coral, shells, minerals, rocks and so on. The surface interest and the contrast with sleek and contemporary manmade objects makes for a very interesting mix.
Here's something I've learnt from painful personal experience - watch how you keep those minerals. Have you ever tried to dust something comprising of hundreds of tiny crystals? Yeahhh. There's a reason I keep them in cases now!
I mostly bring home stones from places I visited, but from Kenya I brought tiny inedible berries that local people use to make jewelry. They are purple and as tough as a rock.
I always hit up consignment and thrift shops on my trips, so I have beautiful plates from England, serving flatware from Paris, and a vase from Austria. I even hauled back an amazing rug from Colorado. I love having useful things with an interesting provenance.
Not having the money to travel to foreign ports all that much, I collect cool stuff at flea markets from other people's travels. You don't have to be using treasures like this strictly to reflect your own memories. You can use items like this simply because you love them, and they reflect your interests and maybe even future travel plans...
And displaying crystals is for their sheer beauty -- if anybody imagined I was into crystal healing, a very brief conversation would DEFINITELY set them straight! I used to imagine someday collecting slabs of quartz and other crystals and making them into a fireplace surround, maybe canted inward slightly so the crystals would reflect the firelight! Still like the idea, although now I face the impracticality a bit more squarely! (As long as t hey are not soluble or have delicate inclusions, you can WASH crystals, by the way, not dust them. But if you want to display them and need to dust them, again if they don't have delicate inclusions, you can do it with an old-fashioned shaving brush -- great for all kinds of little dusting!)
I second the comment on keeping crystals under glass! They can get quite grungy quite fast. I've always if canned air would solve that problem...
I'm likewise partial to rocks. And leaves/seed pods in the fall. I also decorate with nature pictures/drawings. Most of my decorative items have an interesting travel story behind them, actually! Why buy something from Target/Ikea when you could have something unique and important to you?
That should read "I've always wondered if canned air would solve that problem..."
@ReversibleRaincoat: Thank you for phrasing "That should read" instead of "That should say".
While I think crystals and geodes can be beautiful, I'm not a huge on having too many decorations. I do especially like the geode bookend - my mom has a pair as well - I've always loved the combination of form and function. These are surprisingly heavy, so they hold up her heavy cookbooks!


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Unemployment rate in November 2007
December 10, 2007
The number of unemployed persons (7.2 million) was about unchanged in November, and the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the third month in a row.
A year earlier, the number of unemployed persons was 6.8 million, and the jobless rate was 4.5 percent.
Unemployment rates for the major worker groups—adult men (4.1 percent), adult women (4.1 percent), teenagers (16.3 percent), whites (4.2 percent), blacks (8.4 percent), and Hispanics (5.7 percent)—showed little or no change in November.
These data are from the Current Population Survey program and are seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation: November 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1849.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Editor's Desk, Unemployment rate in November 2007 on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2007/dec/wk2/art01.htm (visited September 20, 2014).
Spotlight on Statistics: Productivity
This edition of Spotlight on Statistics examines labor productivity trends from 2000 through 2010 for selected industries and sectors within the nonfarm business sector of the U.S. economy. Read more »


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Tampa Bay Downs
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OLDSMAR, FL. – Two-time Breeders' Cup participant Great Attack is set to defend his title Saturday in the $75,000 Turf Dash Stakes for older horses going five furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs.
The 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Greatness-Cat Attack, by Storm Cat, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the nine-horse field. Joel Rosario has been named to ride Great Attack, who is owned by Houyhnhnm Stable and trained by top south Florida conditioner Wesley Ward.
The Turf Dash is the ninth race on a 10-race card that begins at 12:38 p.m.
Great Attack, who has six career victories from 18 starts, finished second by a neck to Bridgetown in the 2011 Turf Dash, then failed to win in four subsequent starts before making last year's Turf Dash his first career stakes victory under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez.
He went on to win the Grade III Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on May 5 over Bridgetown, then did not race until his fifth-place finish last November in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in which he rallied belatedly.
Great Attack finished fourth in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs. He will break from the No. 4 post in the Turf Dash if all nine start.
Expect 5-year-old gelding Silver Cloud and 7-year-old gelding Jr's Exchange to attract plenty of attention at the wagering windows.
Silver Cloud, a Florida-bred son of Rahy owned and trained by Jason DaCosta, appeared to be approaching top form Dec. 7 in his Tampa Bay Downs debut in an allowance/optional claiming race at the Turf Dash distance.
After stalking a speedy early pace, Silver Cloud powered home four-and-a-half lengths to the good in 55.76 seconds, .84 seconds off the turf track record. Fernando De La Cruz again has the riding assignment.
Silver Cloud's beaten foes included two other Turf Dash entrants, P J's Back and Duty Blues, who finished 2-3 in the Dec. 7 event.
Jr's Exchange, from the barn of top Tampa Bay Downs trainer Gerald Bennett, is the track record-holder for five furlongs both on turf (54.92 seconds) and dirt (56.57). He set the grass record last January and has won five of his last six starts – including a gate-to-wire allowance/optional claiming score here going five furlongs on the turf Dec. 12.
Jr's Exchange will be tested for class, as he finished fifth in last year's Turf Dash and was off the board in his most recent stakes try, the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap at Penn National in July. Regular rider Ronnie Allen, Jr., has the assignment.
Other contenders include stakes-winner and graded-stakes placed 4-year-old Hello Prince, who ran second in his only turf start last February in the Needles Stakes at Gulfstream, but was disqualified to sixth; West Virginia stakes winner Black Belt, who was third here in the Pelican Stakes on Dec. 8; Hold On Smokey, a winner of three consecutive starts who has not been out of the money in his last eight races, all on grass; and Pennsylvania invader Hard Truth.
Track announcer Richard Grunder's popular Morning Glory Club will begin at 10 a.m. The featured guest is jockey Daniel Centeno, who won two races Friday to give him a meet-high 22 victories, seven ahead of runner-up Angel Serpa.
Centeno won the third race aboard 6-year-old gelding Gotta Go Gold for owner Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc. and trainer Jamie Ness, the horse's second victory at the young meet. Centeno returned to the winner's circle after the ninth on 4-year-old colt Thirsty Thursday, who was also winning for the second time this meet for owners Bruce McCrea and Edgar Wockenfuss and trainer Robert R. O'Connor, II.
Ness won with both of his starters, giving him a meet-leading 13 victories. In addition to Gotta Go Gold, he saddled another winner for Midwest: 6-year-old gelding Backwater Blues in the sixth, ridden by Danny Coa.
One lucky bettor at Arlington Park in Illinois hit the Super High-Five in the fourth race, which was won by first-time starter Too Alarming, trained by Brenda McCarthy and ridden by Ronnie Allen, Jr. Robert E. Van Worp bred and owns the 3-year-old colt.
The 3-5-2-4-8 combination paid $29,623.50 for a $1 wager.
Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits poker action in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.
The track currently conducts live Thoroughbred racing on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and will add Thursdays to the mix beginning Jan. 24.
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Financial literacy & estate planning - important together!
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A cornerstone of financial literacy is a sound, well-considered financial plan, and an important part of that is a solid, well-considered estate plan. While many link estate planning to an older group, it is never too soon to get started to understand and implement estate planning.
Join us for a discussion on estate planning documents and strategies that everyone, regardless of age, needs to consider. Learn what adult children need to know about their parents' arrangements and when young adults need to have documents of their own.


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I would like to commend a particular salesman at your Sears Outlet store by the name of James Gaddis. This gentleman was very professional, curtious, has a very neat attire, made me feel welcome, and is very knowledgeable regarding everything in your store. My wait time and the effiency in which Mr. Gaddis protrayed in finalizing my purchase, was beyond my expectations. I would highly recommend your store to my friends and co-workers, and advise them to absolutely ask for James. I love your clean store and the fact that you have a wash room at your faciltiy to make it possible for us customers, to continue to shop in COMFORT!!!! All I can say about my shopping experience at your store is........ W O W !!!Minnie B. from Chicago, IL
Find cheap Washer and Dryer Chicago at Sears Outlet.


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Guild Wars 2 Challenge - Day 13: Your favorite explorable mode dungeon?
Hands down, no question, Citadel of Flame. Easy, FAST, good rewards. How can I NOT like it? Too bad all the armor I want is from dungeons that are way more of a pain in the ass to do >__<; (I'm looking at you TA and CoE)
Also, sorry guys, work has been calling so these are kinda…going down hill.


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The most important pilgrimage site in central Thailand, Wat Phra Phutthabat is believed to house a footprint made by the Buddha.
The legend of Phra Phutthabat dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, when King Song Tham of Ayutthaya sent some monks to Sri Lanka to worship the famous Buddha's footprint of Sumankut. To the monks' surprise, the Sri Lankans asked them why they had bothered to travel all that way when, according to the ancient Pali scriptures, the Buddha had passed through Thailand and had left his footprint in their own backyard. As soon as Song Tham heard this he instigated a search for the footprint, which was finally discovered in 1623 by a hunter named Pram Bun, when a wounded deer disappeared into a hollow and then emerged miraculously healed. The hunter pushed aside the bushes to discover a foot-shaped trench filled with water, which immediately cured him of his terrible skin disease. A temple was built on the spot, but was destroyed by the Burmese in 1765 – the present buildings date from the Bangkok era.
A staircase flanked by nagas leads up to a marble platform, where an ornate mondop with mighty doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl houses the footprint, which in itself is not much to look at. Sheltered by a mirrored canopy, the stone print is nearly 2m long and obscured by layers of gold leaf presented by pilgrims; people also throw money into the footprint, some of which they take out again as a charm or merit object. The hill behind the shrine, which you can climb for a fine view over the gilded roofs of the complex to the mountains beyond, is covered in shrines. The souvenir village around the temple includes plenty of foodstalls for day-trippers.
The Festival of the Holy Footprint
The Festival of the Holy Footprint
During the dry season in January, February and March, a million pilgrims from all over the country flock to Wat Phra Phutthabat for the Ngan Phrabat (Festival of the Holy Footprint), when other pilgrims are making their way to the other major religious sites at Doi Suthep, Nakhon Si Thammarat and That Phanom. During the fair, which reaches its peak in two week-long lunar periods, one usually at the beginning of February, the other at the beginning of March, stalls selling souvenirs and traditional medicines around the entrance swell to form a small town, and traditional entertainments, magic shows and a Ferris wheel are laid on. The fair is still a major religious event, but before the onset of industrialization it was the highlight of social and cultural life for all ages and classes; it was an important place of courtship, for example, especially for women at a time when their freedom was limited. Another incentive for women to attend the fair was the belief that visiting the footprint three times would ensure a place in heaven – for many women, the Phrabat Fair became the focal point of their lives, as Buddhist doctrine allowed them no other path to salvation. Up to the reign of Rama V (1868–1910) even the king used to come, performing a ritual lance dance on elephant-back to ensure a long reign.


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2006-03-01 / Events & Calendar
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One of Henry's most read blogs was posted on 1 November 2007. Its heading told the story 'US recession inevitable; China unstoppable'.
The visiting guru, like Voldemort whose name cannot be spoken, has returned to Australia for his annual visit, slightly peeved that his visit coincided with the horse race that stops a nation, as this reduces his opportunity to practice his guruship.
Henry caught up with said guru thanks to the good offices of Shane NcNeice. His headline on this occasion might be 'Europe absolutely stuffed; US to struggle for a decade or more; Asia to grow strongly'.
(Alert readers will see that Henry has no future as a writer of headlines.)
'Greece will default' was the opening salvo.'Its public service is overstuffed; it joined the EU with dodgy numbers simply to get German rates of interest and borrowed far too much; the New Drachma's are already printed so Greece can cut wages by devaluing, which is far more palatable than cutting wages by 50 %'.
'There is no way they can avoid default; the Germans are simply not gonna pay; Greek debt will be written off 100 %; Greek banks will be bankrupt, and the State owned German banks and French banks, who also hold a lot of Greek debt, will be in trouble'.
'Greek debt default and interbank loans will freeze the Eurozone banking system which will need to be recapitalised'.
The guru acknowledged that US banks will not be immune as they are heavily involved in the Eurozone interbank market and have like Lehman Brothers issued a lot of credit default swaps that will be triggered when Greece defaults. Like Lehman Brothers, we know there are a lot of these instruments out there but the statistics are almost non-existant.
When questioned the guru agreed that, 'within a year', Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy would also default. While the guru implied that all this Eurozone mayhem would largely be contained within Europe, many in the audience, including Henry, wondered how this could be possible.
'Mrs Merkel has no interest in solving this problem', the guru added. 'She just kicks the can down the road. The crisis is keeping the Euro low, and with low wage increases and subdued labor costs in Germany this is helping to make German industry incredibly competitive'.
'There are no jobs in Greece (or the other weak nations of Europe) for young people who are queuing up to emigrate'.
'The big central banks are printing money 24/7; banks are not lending but accumulating cash to cushion themselves when the defaults are triggered. The latest statistics show US base money grew by 37 % in the year to September'. Henry observes that Milton Friedman must be spinning in his grave.
'The US budget deficit is 9 % of GDP, or $1.3 trillion. The Democrats want to raise taxes, and the Tea Party Republicans want to cut spending. There is complete political gridlock. Bene Bernanke is printing money like crazy and using most of it to buy government securities - eg $855 billion of that $1.3 trillion deficit.
'Foreigners are reaching their limit for buying US Treasuries and China is selling down'.
Warming to his task, the guru noted (to Henry's delight) that there aret two sorts of inflation - goods and service inflation and asset inflation.
Goods and service inflation is dead in the USA, as it was for 40 years after 1929. Young people who can't get jobs will be 'scarred for life' and except for food and energy there will be no goods and services inflation.
'But asset inflation is everwhere, even asset bubbles. The Australian dollar is a bubble, US Treasuries, Gilts, JGBs, even London houses, which are being purchased by Arabs, Russians, Indians and Chinese, are bubbles'.
'Eventually there will be a Northern Europe Euro and brutal readjustment in the South. We're talking about social revolution'.
There will be stagnation or slow growth in most of Europe and the USA, 'at least a decade of austerity'. Demographics will also hinder Europe, where indigenous Europeans are not replacing themselves, except in Sweden where there is two years paid maternity leave'.
'China is allowing wages to rise so that consumer spending can replace exports. China knows what it is doing'.
'There will be no war in Europe. The most likely war is between China and Russia over Siberia - a vast, resource rich area largely empty and unexploited'. (Henry kept his thoughts about a similar rich, lightly populated region to himself.)
'What about Australia?' a brave soul asked. 'Australians will feel very rich when the Australian dollar hits US$1.20, but there will be a lot of industrial unrest, like the UK in the 1970s'.
We thanked the guru in the traditional manner and Henry presented him with a copy of Great Crises of Capitalism. With appropriate modesty , it may be appropriate to say that some of this book's themes are similar to those of the guru, though stated in generally less colorful language.
The group then retreated to Vlados for a traditional (and consoling) dinner of lightly cooked meat, salad and red wine. The guru drank only coke.
The visiting guru, like Voldemort whose name cannot be spoken, has returned to Australia for his annual visit, slightly peeved that his visit coincided with the horse race that stops a nation, as this reduces his opportunity to practice his guruship.
Henry caught up with said guru thanks to the good offices of Shane NcNeice. His headline on this occasion might be 'Europe absolutely stuffed; US to struggle for a decade or more; Asia to grow strongly'.
(Alert readers will see that Henry has no future as a writer of headlines.)
'Greece will default' was the opening salvo.'Its public service is overstuffed; it joined the EU with dodgy numbers simply to get German rates of interest and borrowed far too much; the New Drachma's are already printed so Greece can cut wages by devaluing, which is far more palatable than cutting wages by 50 %'.
'There is no way they can avoid default; the Germans are simply not gonna pay; Greek debt will be written off 100 %; Greek banks will be bankrupt, and the State owned German banks and French banks, who also hold a lot of Greek debt, will be in trouble'.
'Greek debt default and interbank loans will freeze the Eurozone banking system which will need to be recapitalised'.
The guru acknowledged that US banks will not be immune as they are heavily involved in the Eurozone interbank market and have like Lehman Brothers issued a lot of credit default swaps that will be triggered when Greece defaults. Like Lehman Brothers, we know there are a lot of these instruments out there but the statistics are almost non-existant.
When questioned the guru agreed that, 'within a year', Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy would also default. While the guru implied that all this Eurozone mayhem would largely be contained within Europe, many in the audience, including Henry, wondered how this could be possible.
'Mrs Merkel has no interest in solving this problem', the guru added. 'She just kicks the can down the road. The crisis is keeping the Euro low, and with low wage increases and subdued labor costs in Germany this is helping to make German industry incredibly competitive'.
'There are no jobs in Greece (or the other weak nations of Europe) for young people who are queuing up to emigrate'.
'The big central banks are printing money 24/7; banks are not lending but accumulating cash to cushion themselves when the defaults are triggered. The latest statistics show US base money grew by 37 % in the year to September'. Henry observes that Milton Friedman must be spinning in his grave.
'The US budget deficit is 9 % of GDP, or $1.3 trillion. The Democrats want to raise taxes, and the Tea Party Republicans want to cut spending. There is complete political gridlock. Bene Bernanke is printing money like crazy and using most of it to buy government securities - eg $855 billion of that $1.3 trillion deficit.
'Foreigners are reaching their limit for buying US Treasuries and China is selling down'.
Warming to his task, the guru noted (to Henry's delight) that there aret two sorts of inflation - goods and service inflation and asset inflation.
Goods and service inflation is dead in the USA, as it was for 40 years after 1929. Young people who can't get jobs will be 'scarred for life' and except for food and energy there will be no goods and services inflation.
'But asset inflation is everwhere, even asset bubbles. The Australian dollar is a bubble, US Treasuries, Gilts, JGBs, even London houses, which are being purchased by Arabs, Russians, Indians and Chinese, are bubbles'.
'Eventually there will be a Northern Europe Euro and brutal readjustment in the South. We're talking about social revolution'.
There will be stagnation or slow growth in most of Europe and the USA, 'at least a decade of austerity'. Demographics will also hinder Europe, where indigenous Europeans are not replacing themselves, except in Sweden where there is two years paid maternity leave'.
'China is allowing wages to rise so that consumer spending can replace exports. China knows what it is doing'.
'There will be no war in Europe. The most likely war is between China and Russia over Siberia - a vast, resource rich area largely empty and unexploited'. (Henry kept his thoughts about a similar rich, lightly populated region to himself.)
'What about Australia?' a brave soul asked. 'Australians will feel very rich when the Australian dollar hits US$1.20, but there will be a lot of industrial unrest, like the UK in the 1970s'.
We thanked the guru in the traditional manner and Henry presented him with a copy of Great Crises of Capitalism. With appropriate modesty , it may be appropriate to say that some of this book's themes are similar to those of the guru, though stated in generally less colorful language.
The group then retreated to Vlados for a traditional (and consoling) dinner of lightly cooked meat, salad and red wine. The guru drank only coke.
Is the Pup a genius? Will the PPs show any real fight? Will Watto's groin hold up so he can bat Australia to victory? These are the questions, gentle readers, and they will all be answered today.
The Aussies started well. Rogers, whose technique, and possibly his test career, seem to have taken great leaps forward since he was hit on the helmet in the first innings, and led Warner in the scoring. He edged one past the keeper, who looked like a garden gnome dressed as a wicket keeper, watching out of the corners of his eyes as a ball he should have caught was spilled by his hapless captain after a despairing dive from first slip. Four runs. The next ball, a bouncer, Rogers scooped over the slip corden for another four, a shot that only the cheekiest Indian stars have previously employed in tests. Was it the very next over when Warner tried the same scoop shot, only to be caught by the gnome-keeper? In between the hapless captain dropped a ball that went straight into his hands. Henry began to feel sorry for the PPs, even considering a new nomenclature, the HPs (Hapless Poms).
By lunch, with Rogers and Watson scoring confortably at 4 runs an over, Australia had less than 100 runs to go. Henry was therefore required to visit the gallery to see the American exhibition. Our Paddington host described this as 'disappointing', with only one Hopper, 'not his best' and others similarly mediocre. Henry will be viewing this exhibition with his radio earphones in place, and his opinion may well be influenced by the course of the cricket in what should be the last session of the forth test, score zip-four.
Henry's gift in the kris kringle was Paul Keating's collected bile, correction pronouncements, called After Words. The Post-Prime Ministerial Speeches. I have picked from the first few of these pronouncements three, shall we be generous and say gems, gems in the dark arts of political sledging - (comments in brackets).
* 'The [Howard] government is responsible for the shameless politicisation of the public service' (P 18). {Gor blimey, comrades, what about Labor's (Republican) G-G, stacking the RBA board with labor mates, etc, etc.}
* 'When John Howard famously advertised his wares in the 2001 election, his advertisements said 'We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come'. The 'we', of course, was not meant to be all of us but only some of us' (p 25). {Did Mr Keating govern for all Australians? Bob Hawke might credibly have made such a claim, but not PK.}
* 'I have never understood why the Howards and the Blaineys are so defensive. So resistent to novelty and to progress. They are more than conservatives - they are reactionaries' (P 41). {Mr Howard and Professor Blainey 'defensive? Rubbish - Mr Howard was a greatly respected PM and Professor Blainey must be rated among Australia's deepest and most innovative thinkers.}
I had run out of interest in this partisan drivel at just the time Watto replaced Warner, and immediately set about helping Rogers finish turning the lions of mid-year into the cricketing pussy cats of late 2013. This was no easy hundred, as his fine century was said to be in Perth, but a serious though aggressive contribution to the demolition of the previously unbeatable Poms with the game still in the balance. Rogers batted confidently toward his century, Watto to a half-century until the newly minted centurian-on-Australian-soil-in-tests fell to Monty Panasar for 112 and Captain Clark joined Watto for the last rites.
The sledging of the PPs (now downgraded to HPs) continued after the stumps were collected and taken away. A fan called the ABC team to opine that Australia was lucky that Captain (James) Cook was not as hapless as Captain (Alastair) Cook, 'or else we'd all be living in Southampton or Antarctica'.
Life can be cruel, gentle readers. Before this series various pommie pundits predicted a five-zip whitewash.
We head to Sydney, where a whitewash seems possible - but if there is one it will be zip-five.
The Pup is already a genius, whatever the result.
The morning headline pointed out that the government's plans might be in disarray if WA requires a new Senate election, the coalition vote having collapsed while that of Labor and the independents having soared since the recent Federal election. Can it really be true that after three short months the voters already prefer Shorten and Milne to Abbott and Hockey?
There was at least better news at the 'G'. Haddin was getting stuck into the PPs, well supported by Lyon. Ian Chapple was commenting, showing us just why he was such a good leader of the Australian team in his day. 'The bloke at mid-on is waving his arms, the bloke at mid-off is arguing with him about what the bowler should be doing and the captain is at first slip saying nothing'.
Another four to Haddin. Chapple: 'It looks like there is no-one in charge. Or, if someone is, he hasn't got a clue'. After some splendid batting, Haddin finally lost his wicket for 65 runs leaving Lyon stranded on 18 and Australia within spitting distance of the PPs first inninings score of 250 odd. We learned that Lyon, 18 not out in this innings, is the only player from either side not to get out at some stage of this series. This means, if Henry recalls the rules, he has the splendid batting average of infinity!
By this vital stage we had arrived to the family Christmas in Strathfield, and a cricket blackout was in place. After kissing all the women (some with more enthusiasm than others) and shaking hands with the blokes, Henry self-medicated with a bottle of crisp white wine. There was a long-lived period of nibbling and drinking while the young lady of the house showered, dried her hair, applied make-up and decided if she was going to grace us with her presence for lunch.
Bert cheered Henry considerably by reporting his smart phone had advised him that the PPs were four down for 60 odd runs, and at that point the TV had to go on. But first the family Kris Kringle had to be completed, and said daughter left for a wedding (not her own), allowing the rest of us to ingest some food. It was a fine feast, cheered by the regular news that another pommie wicket had fallen cheaply, and then that Lyon had five-for.
We finally left for our accomodation in Paddington, as Rogers and Warner came out to bat. Having successfully navigated the final 30 minutes for 30 odd, this leaves Australia with only 201 runs to win the forth test in a row. Seems the colly-wobbles have finally been shaken loose, and tomorrow should prove ...
We arose on day two of the test with the aim of following the cricket on the car radio as we drove northward. The trip started well, with Henry and Mrs T being sledged by Bert and Emily Rose for the choice of the route out of Melbourne, Fortesque having left for Canada to ski with his gf at Whistler in Canada. Gor, blimey, comrades, what has the world come to?. But the sledging was good natured and the traffic not too bad as we zigged and zagged through Melbourne's northern suburbs, finally joining the Hume Highway somewhere well into the long haul to Goulburn.
Play at the 'G' started almost immediately, and Mitch began to fire. The hapless Tim Bresnan copped the first ball of a new day. It headed at 145 K/hour, straight toward his throat. With no choice than desperate defence, Breasnan just managed to get his bat in the way of the ball only for it to land safely into the hands of George Bailey. The bloodbath was underway. Broad survived for a ball (or was it two) until a leg glance for 1 brought Pietersen to face the music. He backed away to allow himself a big hit, but Mitch saw him going and changed the angle of attack so that the ball followed the English/South African, who only just got out of the way, but it was decidedly inelegant. Pietersen decided it was death or glory, and chose death. Two balls later his mighty swish missed everything while the ball scattered the stumps. How we cheered as we passed the third part-hidden cop car for the day at a neat 109 kph. The inninings was all but over, with another sand-shoe crusher to dismiss Broad (HS 169) to end the parade.
There is a lot of talk that General Cosgrove, AC is to be the next Governor-General. While we all agreed the General would be a fine occupant of this wondeful sinecure, what about Mitch Johnson, gentle readers? Anyway, as the PPs final batters trudged off, it seemed that Pup had got it right.
The Aussies had, we felt, fielded at less than optimal standard. The batters made us even more certain that there was just a touch of complanency, or excessive christmas cheer, reducing the standard of play. Perhaps Pup should have batted, and kept the PPs on the field for a day and a half. Warner played a lazy shot to go b Anderson, caught Bairstow, 9. Watto, 'groin' clearly hampering him, poked uncertainly outside the off stump, b, Stokes, c Bairstow, 10. Clarke came in and looked in fine form but left a ball outsife off that took his off stump, b Anderson, 10. Rogers was batting like the anchor man he is, and bravely copped a crack on the helmet that would have sent a lesser man to the sheds. Smith hung about for 77 balls and accumulated 19 runs runs before falling c Bell, b Broad. Bailey hung about for 19 balls before being dismissed c Bairstow, b Anderson for a non-golden duck. Rogers succumbed to Bresnan, c Pieterson for 61 at some stage in the afternoon, a brave effort that should cement his spot in the team for the fifth test. Johnson, Harris and Siddle all went cheaply, leaving Haddin not out 43 and Lyon last man standing.
At the end of day two, Henry and team was at Goulburn, desperately searching for accomodations (Mrs T having said this would be no problem), while it had begun to look as if Pup had blown it. We found the last four unallocated beds in the town and settled our nerves with a cook your ovn steaks at the 'Tattslotto' eatin and drinkin place, highly recommended, incidentally, after a hard day's cricket.
For the first time in years, Henry has the opportunity to be the the pinnacle of world sport, watching Australia play the pestiferous Poms (PP) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the 'G').
The game is cricket, sadly not footy (AFL-style) which we'd be sure to win. But, after a major belting in the UK, Australia, correction Mitch Johnson, had beaten the PPs into abject submission at the Gabba in Brisbane, and in Adelaide and Perth.
With Mitch in the finest form of his career, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle is disciplined support, Wicket-keeper Haddan consistently, and several other cameo contributions in batting, and all round excellent fielding, the Aussies were unstoppable.
Even 'Watto' was doing ok, with the occasional wicket and a wonderful century to finalise the Perth test, when the PPs were literally on their knees.
Henry is by nature a contrarian. All the Aussies were being quoted to the effect that they were 'up' for another win at the 'G', with a recent history of limp failure to expunge.
This was, to a contrarian, a sign that the wheels were likley to fall off. In the most recent 'Saturday Sanity Break', linked here, Henry asked: 'Will the pestiferous poms - minus Trott and Swan, and who knows who - climb off the mat to deliver a knock-out blow on Boxing day? Will 'Pup' again win the toss and bat on a splendid batting pitch on day one, and which turns into a mine-field about 30 minutes before tea on day two? Will rain end Australia's chances of a fourth win? '
But Henry's eldest offspring, Bert, had acquired ticket to day one of the Boxing Day test, and which parent could resist such an opportunity.
We arose early on the big day, dressed, replaced batteries in the small radio with earphones we could both use at the same time, packed the ham sandwiches and christmas cake Mrs T had kindly made, and headed off in the elderlyTerritory. 'Where shall we park?' Henery asked Bert, who was driving. 'At this time in Victoria Street, we can park all day at 80 cents per hour', Bert explained. 'That's why I raided your stash of coins this morning.'
Bert's plan was that Henry would buy breakfast, but the relevant eating places were closed, and Henry was pleased that he had snacked on fruit and yogurt while Bert was showering ealier in the day.
By 10.15 am Bert and Henry had found their seats, high in the member's stand, but right in line with the pitch. (The games in Melbourne and Sydney start at 10.30 am so that the extra time from Pommie bolwer lassitude can be made up without upsetting the 6 pm news.)
Seats were filling quickly, with the crowd in a happy frame of mind and very few PPs to be recognised. The so-called Barmy Army were on the far side of the vast areana, and appeared puzzled when the dusky maiden performed a 'Welcome to Country', then stood for 'God Save the Queen' just as the Aussies stood for 'Advance Australia Fair'.
Captain Clarke won the toss for the forth time in the series, (so much for statistical probabilities, making one suspect he has a double-headed coin or is letting the home side bat first part of the sales maximisation sarategy). He appeared just a tad uncertain and informed the crowd that he had hoped to lose this toss. 'I can't believe I'm doing this, but we'll bowl'. The sky was overcast and there had been a sprinkle of rain as we walked from the parking place to the ground, with forecasts of showers, and perhaps thunderstorms, to come.
For the remainder of the game, the main theme was 'did Pup get it wrong?'. The wicket, we were told, was a bit moist at first, and would present early challenges, but after that would flatten out and become a belter. Kerrie O'Keefe warmed up his irritating, mindless laugh and then it was game on.
The day turned into a wonderful arm wrestle. Mitch, Ryan and Peter ran in, bowling in short bursts, keeping to the 'line and length' theme that is said to be the mantra of the bowling coach. Every PP got a start and at lunch the score was something like 71 for one. We ate our ham sandwiches in a reasonably contented manner, debating the pros and cons of Pup's decision to bowl and asking ourselves if Mitch was just a bit jaded. Bert brought coffee and the clouds began to clear.
The arm wrestle continued after lunch, and the scorecard became depressingly similar. Cook, c Clarke, b Siddle for 27, Carberry, b Watson for 38 (a wonderful dismissal, the ball clipping the off-bail as Carberry shouldered arms), Joe Root, c Haddin, b Harris, 24, Bell, c Haddin, b Harris, 27, Stokes, c Watson, b Johnson, 14, and Bairstow, b Johnson, 10. Only Pietersen held out, helped by dropped catches, including a really tough chance turned into a six when he was only 4, a chance that could if taken have justified Pup's brave decision.
Verdict - Pup's brave call had paid off, especially toward the end of the day when Mitch found his mojo and removed Stokes and Bairstow in terrifying manner
Mrs Thornton has been out and about testing the state of retail sales. She claims to have noticed that things are far from 'hopping', and has taken advantage of the post-Christmas sales that have been brought forward. The nice man selling pasta at the Camberwell market said: 'Its very quiet this year', a sentiment echoed by other retailers. Mrs T scored a fine new pair of sandals that she'd had her eyes on for months for $25, and the shop brought in for her another pair for the same price.
Australians know things are crook in what once was called the 'miracle economy'. They are hunkering down, with inexpensive Kris Kringle gift-giving instead of making the retailers rich. Mrs T has an interesting theory about how the self-made well-off people of our generation are helping their children and grand-children cope with high house prices, ridiculously expensive child-minding and poor job prospects, which we hope she will put down on paper.
The Oz today has the extraordinarily arresting headline 'IR law puts brakes on carmakers'. If this is 'news', Henry is a monkey's uncle. The story of how aggressive and greedy unions have ruined one of our last remaining cottage industries is well known. Mrs T's labor-voting mates to a woman/man all say 'let the car makers go'. The Productivity Commission's estimate that subsidies to car-makers add up to $30 billion is a terrible indictment of governments of both stripes over the years - and they boast of removing tariffs.
Big spreads on 'The Lucky Country 50 years on' in the long weekend AFR. We awoke this morning to the dulcet tomes of Ross Garnaut and George Megalogenius debating their books Dog Days vrs The Australian Moment on ABC radio. George trying to be optimistic, Ross doggedly (I knew you'd like that, Comrades) defending his pessimistic view of Australia's future. Henry in fact thinks the gloomy one is closer to the mark, but here's the catch. If we are to avoid serious recession we need to reduce the massive cost overhang that is causing companies and entire industries to shut dowm. Professor Garnaut has no plan to abolish the cost overhang, and in the absence of a successful plan to do just that we face a long slow time of austerity and quite probably a serious recession.
More here on Dog Days. And here on the more general issues.
Happy Christmas, gentle readers. We hope you will all be present and correct after (frugal) festivities and that someone figures out how to fix the national cost overhang without a serious recession.
The mad penguin theory of innovation
'Multimillionaire gambling polymath David Walsh says he has stumbled across the answer to an important evolutionary puzzle: why species produce surprisingly high numbers of unpredictable risk-takers who embark on irrational behaviour. They are the mad scientists, odd-ball inventors, and unduly confident entrepreneurs who apportion their time very differently to the rest of us'.
Read on here.
'The Australian cricket team is headed for number one screams' a headline this morning. 'Ouch!' is Henry's reaction. Please do not tempt the gods in that obviously risky manner.
Will the pestiferous poms - minus Trott and Swan, and who knows who - climb off the mat to deliver a knock-out blow on Boxing day? Will 'Pup' again win the toss and bat on a splendid batting pitch on day one, and which turns into a mine-field about 30 minutes before tea on day two? Will rain end Australia's chances of a fourth win? These are the questions that any serious cricket tragic will be pondering as he/she chews the Christmas turkey on Christmas day.
'Players will be sanctioned' the eminant sporting writer informed Henry as we rode together on the tram yesterday. He's already acknowledged the wisdom of Henry's attack on the hypocrisy of the AFL's fining Melbourne for 'tanking' while asserting it was not for 'tanking', or agreeing that Essendon would not be paying coach Hird in 2014 if he got the full amount due upfront, presumably delivered by Santa, before the end of 2013.
'Demetriou's got to go' was the conclusion as the tram turned into Collins Street.
The Keating.
Joe Hockey ran close, with his 'fit in or f**k off'' advice to Holden. Glenn Stevens' 'the glass is half-full' also gave it a shake, and provides a model for boosters of Australian cricket.
But regular correspondant Gary Scarrabelotti wins the inaugural Keating award for the 'bravest political truth-telling for the year'.
'The future, if there is one, for Australian manufacturing would look like this: a mass of small- and medium-sized businesses, staffed by a workforce of non-unionised worker-owners, with the companies they own being run according to Open Book Management (OBM) principles'.
Other finalists may be viewed here, along with the contribution in 1986 that led to the creation of this award.
Words you need to know.
A reader has provided the following definition of a most useful word, especially with the festive season soon to be upon us..
Wamblecropt: 'Wamblecropt means overcome with indigestion. Once upon a time, you might observe that your stomach was wambling a bit. If the wambles got so bad you couldn't move, you were wamblecropt. It's the most beautiful word in the English language to say aloud. Try it'.
Our correspondant adds: 'I find 6 and 8 prevalent, indeed almost viewed as a core competency, by many in the corporate world'.
Nine (even) more useful words here.
We wish all of our readers, special correspondants and regular writers every good wish for the festive season.
Please do not forget that you can elevate your loved one to Goldmember status for a mere $55. Goldmembership would provide shreiks of joy, for example, if it was a gift in a Kris Kringle. 'The gift that keeps on giving'.
Or go to Amazon, where a Kindle version is a mere $9.99 and a secondhand copy is a snip at (gasp!) $71.89. A new book bubble in the making?
Image of the week
Courtesy Sun Herald
Its official, government needs to do the heavy lifting of economic reform. And the biggest area for reform is the labor market, the area where the Rudd'n'Gillard'n'Rudd government(s) did most damage to Australia's competitiveness. This, of course, is the area in which reform, at least of 'WorkChoices' dimemsion, is 'dead, buried and cremated'.
Greg Sheridan comes out punching today. 'Abbott must crush excess regulation if he is to keep the economy viable in the region'.
He quotes the World Economic Forum. "The main area of concern for Australia is the rigidity of the labor market, where the situation has detiorated further".
Then in the fin, one Max Mason reports the boss of PIMCO, 'the manager of the world's biggest bonds fund'.
"Due to elevated cost structures and a high exchange rate, Australia Inc is increasingly unable to compete in a fiercely competitive global market".
Henry cannot find the link, but the article is on P21 of the fish'n'chips version.
And we must salute Ben Bernanke in his last act likely to influence Henry's comfort in old age. Mr Bernanke has announced a tiny start to ending the 'taper' (printing money) and interest rates likely to be lower for longer. This led US share to rocket up, with Australian shares following in hot pursuit this morning.
'The US Federal Reserve announced plans to trim its aggressive bond-buying program on Wednesday but sought to temper the long-awaited move by suggesting its key interest rate would stay lower for even longer than previously promised'. Read on here, fellow oldsters.
Education standards
Regular readers may recall Henry's perhaps eccentric views that it is the rise of women in a wide range of professions that has led to falling standards of education in Australia.
This is because, before women had reached for the stars, bright women traditionally went into nursing and teaching. Result, excellent teachers and nurses. Implication, well educated young people, a small proportion of whom went to universities the supplied excellent tertiary teaching.
Now of course, when women are Governors General, Prime ministers, police bosses, barristers, brain surgeons, Qantas pilots, even journos, and other high skill jobs too numerous to mention, it is the (ahem) less talented women (and men) who on average become teachers.
A professor-pal of Mrs Thornton revealed a staggering fact that explains why China's educational standards are so much better than Australia's. In China, said Professor reported, women with the highest secondary school marks typically become, wait for it, doctors and teachers. Guess which country is in the top few, perhaps even top, in the catagory of 'educational standards'.
With all the flack flying about on the issue of Gonski (now Gornski to chair the ANZ bank) and the division of an increasingly large dollup of dough among schools, etc, will someone in authority please focus on the 'cultural' fact of the quality of teachers and how these can be improved. The private schools typically have teachers of higher quality than the government schools, and this is not just a matter of higher rates of pay.
Christopher Pyne, this is your holiday task. If you fail to find a solution, you should be made to sit in the corner with the hat with the big 'D' on it. Education reform won't save us from the current oncoming deep s**t, but it might help us (Correction: I mean any young person reading this column) in 20 or 30 years.
It was so 'orrible in Perth that Henry began to feel ever so slightly sorry for the Poms.
Henry and Bert have tickets for the Boxing Day test - paid for by Bert! - at the 'G', and by then any slight sorrow will have been washed away in the haze of another festive day or two.
One saw slight signs of Pommie backbone as the tail enders actually scored a few runs, and the Aussies have been allowed (gasp!) a few beers, so perhaps the forth test will offer more of a contest.
Australia's fiscal situation is a real mess, far worse than most people imagined. The latest announcement may or may not continue the modern tradition of a Treasury department that cannot understand that repeated failure to present sensible 'realistic worse cases' destroys its own reputation and makes ordinary Australians worry that our economic and political elite don't know what is going on.
Henry cannot understrand the current opinion polls that show Labor well in front after only 100 days of conservative government finding trouble under every rock they turn over.
The case for fiscal austerity is widely endorsed - eg by editorials in the AFR and The Australian today - while the SMH emphasises that tough measures will only be accepted by voters if the overall package of spending cuts and tax hikes are seen to be 'fair'.
The required process is the same as that required by any person or company that has been living beyond his/her/its means. First cut spending and charitable grants. Then review options for raising money, and a government of course has punitive taxation to make this part of the process technically simple.
But the outlook is so gloomy with $120 billion of deficits predicted for the next four years that many entrepreneurs would prefer to declare bankruptcy. Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott have no such option and will emerge from the coming fiscal struggle far older and battle-scarred than they are now.
Difficult as the struggle for fiscal sanity will be, it is no-where near as serious as the problem of reducing Australia's cost overhang. The high level of costs explains why vehicle manufacturers, Qantas, tourist operators, educationaliasts and almost all small businesses are suffering with inability to makes acceptable profits, or in some cases total inability to make a living.
One reason for high costs is a greatly overvalued Australian dollar. The dollar now seems to be on a downward trend, and the battle to regain competitiveness must shift to the question of how to prevent the automatic flow-through of inflation that will result from the dollar's depreciation. Actually, costs have to fall substantially if competitiveness is to be restored quickly, and achieving this will require an unprecedented degree of political, business and worker cooperation.
'Economic reform' - cutting red tape, simplifying approval processes - will help but can contribute only a small amount in any one year. 'Reform' can make Australia more competitive in a decade or two but can contribute little in the immediate future.
If cooperation is not achieved, the traditional remedy of deep recession will be required. Experience in Southern Europe provides little comfort.
Not much about the cost overhang in the RBA governor's opening address at Parliament, available here.
Italy on the brink.
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard says that 'Italys president fears violent insurrection in 2014 but offers no remedy'.
'Events in Italy are turning serious. President Giorgio Napolitano has warned of widespread social tension and unrest in 2014 as the Long Slump drags on.
'Those living on the margins are being drawn into indiscriminate and violent protest, a sterile lurch towards total opposition.
'His latest speech is a veritable Jeremiad. Thousands of companies are on the brink of collapse. Great masses of the working people are on the dole or at risk of losing their jobs. Very high rates of youth unemployment (41pc) are leading to dangerous alienation'.
During recent years Australias budgetary position has been blown apart by foolish and misguided fiscal frolics of the previous government. Treasury and the Reserve Bank are of course well aware of this but cannot say this with an equally blunt manner, at least in public. A return to significant budget surplus is the only sensible course, and this will take time and great effort. Unless Australias voters are convinced of the need for fiscal reform, the political fallout from sensible changes to policy will be considerable.
Australia however faces a far larger problem than restoring fiscal sanity. The bigger problem is a cost base far above that of competitor nations. Henry is in no position to offer precise estimates, but the evidence is overwhelming. The vehicle manufacturers cannot survive without significant subsidies. Qantas is losing vast sums of money on its overseas routes. Inward tourism is struggling. Tertiary education is losing overseas customers. Small businesses throughout Australia are closing shop. Consumers and businesses alike are groaning under the burden of massive cost hikes by electricity, gas and water suppliers.
It is becoming accepted that part of the problem is an uncomfortably high dollar. The Reserve Bank has responded with partial success by cutting interest rates and more recently the governor has said limited direct intervention may be used to further reduce the currency. Eventually there is likely to be a far larger currency depreciation imposed by market forces.
Whatever the degree of currency depreciation there will be no automatic resolution of the problem of Australias excessive cost base. Currency depreciation was an important part of Australias response with the onset of global depression in the 1930s. But severe depression meant that cost levels were reduced at the same time and the Australian economy quickly became more competitive.
In the 1980s, as part of the so-called Banana Republic crisis, the dollar fell a long way. The governments response was to turn a budget deficit into a surplus and to negotiate with unions to secure helpful cuts to real wages.
The team at Henry Thornton.com believe that both fiscal reform and cuts to the domestic cost base are needed now. Without direct action to contain or even reduce the cost base the market will reduce costs by imposing a severe recession and it will be very hard for the Abbott government to avoid being blamed for such an outcome/
Innovative policies are needed to resolve both fiscal catastrophe and the national cost overhang. In the 1950s, Britich economist James Meade suggested that the British government simply give the coal mines to the mining unions.
Gary Scarrabelotti this week suggests a version of this policy to deal with the cost overhang problem as it applied to vehicle manufacturing.
'The future, if there is one, for Australian manufacturing would look like this: a mass of small- and medium-sized businesses, staffed by a workforce of non-unionised worker-owners, with the companies they own being run according to Open Book Management (OBM) principles.
'That is to say, the employees would hold major stakes in the businesses where they work and the management of these companies would empower the workers to have a decisive role in directing the operations of the business, above all at the workplace level'.
Read on here. Innovative policies like this are a vital part of avoiding serious recession, which is the usual way an economy purges itself of an excessive cost base.
Graduation Day 2013
Yesterday the Thornton family gathered at Melbourne's Exhibition building - the place where Australia's first national government met - to celebrate the graduation of two offspring, Eliza and Timothy, and that of (it seemed) thousands of their co-graduands.
Hard seats, hundreds of metres from the action (but with a big screen), a procession of academics in Hogwarts-style gowns and funny hats (most of the males without ties), even a Mace. Much bowing and tipping of the funny hats, often with toothy grimaces as T Abbott is depicted by the AFR's Rowe. The authority figues (on this occasion) were Deputy Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors and Deputy Deans, a veritable flotilla of deputies. The whole event took more that three hourts, longer if one stayed for the champagne and sushi after the formalities were completed. Oh, I nearly forgot the fine address by Henry's old mate, Keith Hancock, on how the world had changed since he was a new graduate.
As readers who have attended graduation ceremonies will know, each lad or lass mounts steps, waits in line until their name is called out, then walks across the stage, bows to the (deputy in this case) chief who is handing out certificates, receives his or her ticket to ... whatever job excellence or influence can get them.
A highlight was the wonderful pronunciation of the names. Clearly a strong grounding in Mandarin is needed at Melbourne University, and with our limited knowledge of that increasingly important language we felt those reading out the names did a wonderful job. Except in the case of Henry's daughter Eliza. Here I list the five first names (not 'Christian' names necessarily) and the five after that of the Thornton's darling Eliza. Yudi, Hao, Xuan, Zhimo, Fengqin, Eleeeza, Sejung, Quinwei, Nicholas (a break in the series), Hyukjoo and Lucinda.
Degrees were handed out like eggs produced by chickens in modern egg-producing farms, and one is aware from feedback from our young darlings that is how teaching is conducted at Australia's modern degree-factories. A David John Black received a doctorate for his finding that: '... approximately 20 % of working-age employees can be deemed over-educated'. It was unclear if Dr Black's research related to the whole world, just Australia or some collection of countries presumably including Australia. But it was clear that Melbourne University is engaged in industrial education on a grand scale, and it is highly likely that many of its graduates will find jobs (if they are lucky) for which they are overqualified.
There is (we hope) only one more graduation ceremony to attend, when our oldest son Bert gets his Juris Docter (not actually a doctorate, but like other aspects of modern tertiary education, this is an inexplicable mystery) from Monash University sometime in 2014. Will Monash hire the MCG, one is gforced to ask, to release an even larger flood of graduates onto a severely over-supplied graduate labor market?
Fiona Prior visits Yoko Ono's exhibition at Sydney's MCA and pays homage to the visionary, loving and naughty spirit of the Ono/Lennon partnership.
The pestiferous poms are finally feeling the heat, real heat, in Perth. If they think bowling is hard work, just wait until they are under a helmet with the sun blazing down facing Mitch Johnson with his 150 km an hour thunderbolts.
Sadly, footy in the news again. The AFL famously said Melbourne was not guily of throwing matches but fined them anyway. They have a notoriously weak drugs policy and generally act like bullies in primary school. Now these iconic sporting managers have insisted that James hird can only be paid in a lump sum to avoid the AFL obiter dicta (that someone failed to write down) that the hapless James Hird receive salary in 2014. Gor blimey, Mr D, do you think we are all complete idiots?
Image of the week - to be provided after Henry's morning walk.
Thank goodness, comrades, some straight talking on Australia's economic problems/challenges.
Most important is RBA governor Glenn Stevens who has provided a long interview to the AFR. Highlights include:
* Economy. Forecasts revised down 'But there are some promising signs, I think'.
* Monetary policy. Markets have priced in one chance in three of another rate cut in February. Stevens will not pre-empt the board's decision then.
* On the US Fed 'taper' and the Aussie dollar. 'You have had extraordinary policy accommodation by the Fed and, by the way, not only by the Fed, by the Bank of England, by the Bank of Japan and, in various respects, by the ECB as well. So the extraordinary policies that were seeing isnt just an American phenomenon but it will be the Americans who I would expect will be the first to be able to say, Look, we dont need that level of extraordinary accommodation now because things are improving.
'I think youre right to expect that the pressure on our own currency to be downward and not upward in that world, though presumably some of thats already embodied in the current pricing, but I would expect we will probably get some more adjustment when the event comes to pass'.
* On the likely future value of the Aussie dollar. 'I dont think the extent of our knowledge about whats correct is that good, but I did think 95 was rather too high. I thought 85 would be closer to the mark than 95 at the time we started to make some comments some months ago, but, really, I dont think we can be that precise. I just think that if things over the medium term evolve as were presently assuming and I think its reasonable to make these assumptions its going to be surprising if a nine at the front is the right number'.
* On the embryonic housing boom. 'I havent felt particularly constrained thus far by what has been happening in housing. The view that Ive held to this point is that we want more dwelling construction. ... 'we have seen an appreciable pick up in investor activity in Sydney ... and people ought to be careful here. Property is not the sure fire, guaranteed way to wealth that we tend to assume. Prices can fall, they dont always rise and be careful how much leverage there is'.
* So-called macroprudential tools to limit the supply of capital to parts of the housing market,..., even though in some other countries ... seem to be going into it solidly. 'Weve thought about these issues and we have had, as well, preliminary discussions at a working level with APRA and other agencies about if we needed to do something like that, ... 'My general attitude to macroprudential tools is I think theyre potentially a useful adjunct to other policy tools that help you manage some of these tensions for a period of time. I think it would be a bit naïve and contrary to the lessons of history to expect that prolonged use of regulatory tools, and thats what they are, theyre regulatory tools, and we know that regulatory tools over a prolonged period to try to make up for the fact that the price of credit is, in some sense, not in the right place'.
* On intervention to drive the dollar down. 'To the extent anything weve said has had some effect at nudging it down, I would regard that as probably nudging the market in the direction of the medium term equilibrium and therefore not inappropriate. But I dont harbour the illusion that mere words ... are all powerful. Theyre certainly not.
* Fiscal policy.'I dont think theres a need to do a big, discretionary, aggressive tightening in order to achieve a surplus in a particular year'.'The real question is have we got the revenue streams to cover the good things the community wants the government to give us out over the medium term'.
* Productivity and real wages. 'Wages growth in nominal terms have slowed, to some extent that was expected, but it has been quite responsive to the softer labour market. But the deeper thing thats happening is, real national income is growing more slowly because the terms of trade arent rising, theyre in fact falling a bit. Thats already showing up in slower growth in real wages,...'I think there is a conversation to have with the community there, I think it will resonate, and what they most need is, I think, a sense that the people who are in charge understand the problem and have a plan thats going to work, thats what people want to hear'.There is an understandable sense stepping carefully through the daisies on this issue, and I recommend readers go the the section about two-thirds of the way through the discussion.
* A nightmare scenario, that unconventional super-easy US (and Eurozone, and Japanese) monetary policy continues. ' I am reluctant to speculate about nightmare scenarios openly but if they all keep doing QE forever does there come a time when we, you know, over the various cycles that the interest rates just keep trending down and we end up in the same place as them. ...'Beyond that its hard to see unless there was a complete retreat in our own country from rational policy making generally which I dont think thats happening at the moment and its up to you guys in the serious media and us and others [including business leaders] to articulate why sound policy frameworks keeping making sense'.
Read the full transcript for yourself here. It is a path-breaking contribution, and well done to both Glenn Stevens and the AFR. My main criticism is that Michael Stutchbury did not ask Glenn Stevens about the potential value of a broad-based tax on capital inflow to tame the dollar, as promulgated here.
We also need some further straight talk on how to convert a fall in the nominal exchange rate to a fall in the real exchange rate = rise in Australia's competitiveness. The real nightmare scenario is what happens if we fail in this vital matter. (More on that issue here.)
The float of the Aussie dollar
This week has provided Paul Keating, John Stone and various other previous players - even Henry's editor - with a wander down memory lane.
We read with astonishment Peter Martin's account in the SMAGE. Mr Martin has done some deep delving and, except for a typo (similar to that in one of Paul Kelly's books), has nailed important parts of the 'inside story'.
Time to turn one's mind to the third test starting today on the 'green monster' in Perth.
Will they or won't they ... queue up for more taxpayer's money? Well, now we know. With a sweeping global restructure underway and a new CEO appointed, an engineer, (and a mother), it was an obvious decision to quit manufacturing in Australia where unions are too demanding, costs generally are too high, the exchange rate is too high and the local market is too small. The hand-outs on offer were simply too small and (one suspects) the Abbott government too determined not to be conned once again.
The political firestorm is intense and will worsen as an indebted government finds itself unwilling to go further into debt to subsidise failing businesses. Yet in the wake of each large and obvious failure there will be increases in government outlays (eg unemployment benefits) and reduction in government receipts (lost income tax and reduced GST receipts, to name only the biggest two.) The budgetary situation is already known to be far worse than believed at the time of the final Labor budget and will become far worse if the issues that added up to GMH ceasing vehicle production here are not addressed.
Gerard Henderson's 'Return if the Industrial Relations club' could not be more timely. Three paras from the introduction lays out the policy issues with crystal clarity.
'Labors commitment to abandon Work Choices was central to Kevin Rudds landslide victory in November 2007. The task was undertaken by the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in her capacity as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
'The Rudd/Gillard changes, as embodied in the Fair Work Act, had the effect not only of junking Work Choices but also of dismantling many of the earlier Howard reforms and some of the Keating reforms, built as they were on the ethos that centralised wage fixing should have a diminishing role and focus largely on a safety net.
'Despite increased recognition of collective bargaining, industrial relations in Australia is now more centralised and regulated than it was a quarter of a century ago. This is despite the fact that the Australian economy is more diverse, more reliant on small business growth and operating in a more competitive global marketplace'.
Here is a link. It comes highly recommended by Henry.
An innovative approach to reducing cost levels is badly needed, but changing IR law has been ruled out for this parliament.
The Abbott government is already plunging in the opinion polls. Whether these polls are accurate is impossible to say, and there is a long time until the next election (if the normal timetable is adhered to.) But there will be shivers crawling up the spines on the Treasury benches, and glee on the Labor side as they perceive the consequences of their mistakes being blamed on the new government.
Reform is needed but any serious reform will be blocked by the current Senate.
Henry is no politician, but as an economist believes government must tell Australians with crystal clarity just how bad is the situation we find ourselves in, and to provide options.
Sadly, there is no evidence that Mr Abbott and Treasurer Hockey 'get' the point Henry is trying to make. (Not just Henry - see Ross Garnaut's Dog Days and talk to just about any clear-thinking economist.)
In the end, the continued loss of jobs and indeed whole enterprises will force the government to face reality.
That is when we find out where this government is going to be ranked - as one-term losers, as do-nothing hang-abouts like Fraser and Howard, or another great reforming government like those of Hawke and Keating and Howard and Costello.


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Problem free. Thats right......problem free! by Grand Am fan from Indianapolis on 03/08/2010. Trim: 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE Sedan, Owned 7 years.
Pros: My Grand Am has 178,000 miles on it and I have never had any of the problems others say they have. Maybe I just take really good care of it. I love the way it handles and it is comfortable. It has never gotten stuck in the snow and never lost control of it on ice. I changed out the front brakes myself. Only took me about 20 minutes. The only fluid it ever needs is washer fluid and the transmission has been solid so far. Other reviews had me worried but now I'm just baffled by them. I was going to buy a new car when this one eventually died, but now I'm considering having the engine rebuilt instead. It has a 3.4 V-6. I love this car.
Cons: Never had a problem so I have no cons to offer.
Overall review: Great handling. Car looks and drives nice. If you just take care of it with regular maint. like with any other car it will last a long time. Mine has 178,000 miles on it and has no problems to speak of. Good gas MPG. I really enjoy driving my car.
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