Academic bias

At university, we all know marx is marks; we do however need to balance academic interference against freedom of speech. 

Interestingly, Leigh and Gans research indicates mostly neutral political reporting from Australian media outlets with somewhat surprising results of News Corp and the ABC as being politically neutral and unsurprisingly, Fairfax and The Guardian reporting the greatest left wing bias. We are exposed to biased reporting daily, we do not want further exposure to excessive left wing ideals, we seek a balanced academic argument. 

Universities need to lead critical thinking and deductive reasoning amongst students based on measurable facts with absolutely no emotion involved or institutional bias. What we ask for is free thinking not overly influenced by the pangs of socialist lecturers; give us the information, the tools to analyse the problem and the academic freedom to come up with reasoned argument. 

Barrabup Pool Nannup

On a trip in the south-west forests, we drove through some wonderful regrowth forests and it was difficult to distinguish between old growth and regrowth as a novice. Located just before the timber town of Nannup, this picturesque swimming hole was for the exclusive use of the mill manager and his family. The timber mill operated from 1909 - 1915 and then from 1919 - 1925 employing 150 men until the timber resources were exhausted and the mill moved to nearby Nannup.

The mill manager's residence was perched on the edge of the pool, it was a case economic segregation, the mill workers were able to use the aptly named Workers Pool, a little further downstream on St John Brook in the Cambray State Forest.

The picnic area, offers tables under the shade of the trees or a roofed structure. We enjoyed our breakfast under the trees, interestingly,  there are no rubbish bins at the pool as they attract feral animals. A sign kindly asks people to take their rubbish with them, I saw no rubbish around the area at all.

The boardwalk is located where St John Brook flows into the pool, the slow flowing brook meanders through the forest. There is a walk along a track around the pool and through the forest, while the area was logged in the early part of the century, growth in the area has returned although no tall timber is found in the area.   

Social media extinction

CNBC asks the question, what social media network will be around in 25 years? This isn't an exhaustive list by any amount of the imagination, but it begs the question - will any survive?

Facebook is the widest known social media platform, people are jaded with FB though, as Zuckerburg owns Instagram, I guess it is pretty popular and may remain so.

Google will still be be around, so YouTube will survive but I am not so sure about G+ unless it suddenly becomes cool or Google Inc sinks a ton of money and effort into the network. That's a shame as I like G+ as a network.

I am less than upbeat about Snapchat and sharing crude selfies may actually fall out of fashion crippling the media platform. Then again, venture capitalists are lining up for the company with reports of Yahoo throwing plenty of cash their way.

I positive about Twitter, downbeat on Tumblr despite the fact Yahoo owns the platform and my sister telling me how cool the network actually is. I know little about Reddit and think Pintrest will maintain its market share unless, of course, competitors create extreme competition.

That leaves LinkedIn, that is the leading professional network but needs to gain market penetration to really become effective without becoming a second rate chatter social network.

2006 Rosemount show reserve chardonnay

Sitting in my alcohol fridge, I still have a number of bottles of 2006 Rosemount show reserve chardonnay I purchased from my wine dealer laying on their side chilling. On file, they know I like old style wooded chardonnay in summer; I remember their pitch, pull out your shoulder pads and roller skates, this is a throwback to old style winemaking.

Looking at the tasting notes, this chardy is pale gold colour, reminiscent of cat's piss yellow. Peach and mango fruit accentuate the biscuit and spicy tobacco oak the overtones. While they describe this chardy palate as medium to full bodied, I feel it is definitely full bodied. A mix of tropical fruit, peach, ripe lemon, peach, spicy oak with savoury lees flavours round out this well crafted Hunter Valley offering. The tasting notes suggest this chardonnay drinks best between 2008 - 2010; yet in early 2015, this chards is still drinking well. I sometimes wonder if I am missing out on the 2008 - 2010 version.

PADI's outdated ascent rates

PADI loves to self promote, they are the masters of self-promotion and never miss an opportunity to do so. Likewise, should good practices get in the way of self-promotion, they will always err on self-promotion. PADI originally published a set of dive tables based on the US navy tables with shortened no-decompression limits. The US navy settled on an 18 metres per minute (mpm) ascent rate on their tables for all dives based on a compromise as combat divers wanted a 30 mpm ascent rate as they naturally don't want to hang around whilst the hardhat divers requested a 6 mpm ascent rate since they are winched to the surface.

The 18 mpm compromise rate was decided for the 1955 USN dive tables based on dual use and stayed that way until 1992 when a revision was undertaken by Workman et al. with the new 9 mpm ascent rate and revised no-decompression limits. Without the technology of dive computers and ascent rate indicators available at the time; an ascent rate of 1 foot per second (60 fpm/18 mpm) was reasonably easy to execute. This was broadly in line with dive computer research and development, PADI developed their revised dive tables in the early 1980s with time pretty much standing still down at PADI headquarters. Regardless, PADI maintained their stance on the 18 mpm ascent rate even though the majority of computer manufacturers and US navy had long undergone revisions based on extensive research and testing.

Not only did PADI maintain the 18 mpm ascent rate on their recreational dive planner, the successor to the PADI dive tables, they defended their position based on the premise that it was proven in the field. PADI will refute this claim as their own testing was conducted with the 18 mpm ascent rate in the chamber and later actual test dives.

PADI are in the business of selling dive courses and certification of divers, that is instructional design technology and supporting dive training materials - a standardised system of dive training. Consequently PADI sell their recreational dive planner to support dive training, they profit from every certification, every training material sold and instructor membership fees. 

PADI makes no money from dive equipment sales; hence, the requirement to purchase outdated dive tables complete with ascent rates that are twice the rate of current recommendations.

Disconnected in an interconnected world

After becoming accustomed to continuous inter-connectivity in the internet age, being left disconnected whilst on holiday in Bali, Indonesia takes a little getting used to. But you ask, don't they have a pretty good service in Bali? Usually the WiFi works for the best part, but it goes down pretty easily too, now I am beginning to rely on remaining connected.

I handle all my booking online, likewise for banking; after all, you have to pay for all of this. When you find your self disconnected, you are unable to communicate, book, bank or even browse - it is an unusual feeling for a person accustomed to continual connectivity. I had an assignment due, I am glad I completed and submitted early, likewise, a job application with a hard deadline. It was well worth the extra stress and effort to complete the tasks early.

Google+

I have become a fan of Google+ a while back, I like the platform for the best part. According to Business Insider, the G+ network is growing faster than Twitter, now the number 2 social network behind Facebook - I am surprised. 

The recent G+ growth may be attributed to building interconnected services including the search engine, YouTube, maps, drive, gmail and other apps; you log into one - you log into the full spectrum of services. I like G+ as I can chat to my friends, I follow a number of photography and travel pages and my account doesn't get bombed with advertising like Facebook does. The downside is most of my friends are on Facebook, I have a limited circle of friends on G+ but I find the communities as the best place to share common interests while hangouts is good for chat.    

Getting screwed in a business partnership

Getting involved in a start-up is risky business, you need to carefully choose your industry, business structure, organisational design, secure suppliers and canvass clients; but most importantly, if getting involved in a partnership - choose your business partner carefully.

Mine is a particularly interesting scenario because my business partner lived outside of the country for more than half the year. You can see where this is going right, business gets difficult, partner is uncontactable, doesn't return and you, living in the country the business is operating are required to clean up the mess. Ok, no gold stars for that one.

First, you have to question my motivation for getting into such a business, that would be fair. My partner wanted to move to Australia and set up a life, as he didn't want to work a standard job despite having qualifications in demand, a small business is the next step. So purchasing or setting up a business is the next option, we chose the later. 

My motivation was to allow him to realise such a dream, instead what I got was left with paying the bills, legal action brought about by his actions alone and the extra tax burden. Even during the court, appearances, the plaintiff wanted to face his chief tormentor. 

He was genuinely disappointed he failed to show - so was I. He even went as far to explain under oath that he had no problem with me; he actually stated I did the best I could under the circumstances, paying him from my own bank account. 

What happened to my dream of financial independence? Straight down the toilet. Had I not resigned my director's position in the company, I would not be able to manage my retirement fund.

A director can not allow a business to operate whilst insolvent. He, of course, got off scott free while I attended court cases brought about by his failure to pay staff correctly and punctually - he just ignored them.

We actually had some good staff we had to unload because of personal relationships, an arrogance not wanting to work with certain people is normally reserved for the high flyers. I have worked at companies where the worker did a good job.

Bringing in business, making money for the company and generally doing a good job is what you want - but are real arseholes to deal with. Without a doubt, a nice guy losing money or an arsehole making money isn't a hard choice, or so I thought.

For my part in the business, I wasn't exactly a silent partner, I assisted in an operational sense when required on weekends and drove the planning and strategic agenda. As I was employed full-time in a field I enjoyed.

I was not about to resign my position I had worked hard to gain only to take up a job in an industry I had left earlier because I hated dealing with all the lies. This is generally a lifestyle business and does not attract hard core business people seeking profits.

A start-up is generally under capitalised, cash flows are initially subdued and a business is usually on the brink of collapse during the initial two years, profits are sunk back into the business, I never pulled a wage or withdrew any capital, in fact, I invested further capital. 

The next three years are tight too, if you get to five years, then you are generally set as revenues are greater than outflows and you have established a client base and revenue stream. As I was employed full-time already, I not only used my salary to live on, my salary also further capitalised the business.

Of course, my partner was unemployed in such a sense, he was free to clock in the business daily overseeing operations, generating new business, maintaining the accounts and supervising staff. My involvement required weeknights after my full-time commitments had finished for the day, weekends and days off from work.

So now my partner has a second newborn child; naturally, I found out by other sources. I am apparently not that important to him; he didn't feel compelled to share such a life event, pretty much makes a mockery of my intentions to allow him to settle in Australia. 

My family think the child should be named after me; their reasoning is that I am a major contributor to the funding of the child, at least they have their sense of humour left intact. 

So now I know, my motivation to allow him to set-up a business in Australia has amounted to a personal crushing debt, an extra tax burden, debt collectors, creditors, damage to my personal reputation, health issues and my credit rating.

Choose your partner carefully; I didn't, my business partner was chosen on the basis of friendship and the willingness to work together allowing him to move and settle in Australia. He took advantage of my loyalty, my misplaced trust and willingness to do the right thing. 

That is why I paid off all the creditors while he fled the country never to face anyone. He knows it is difficult for me to take legal action internationally; it would cost me more than the actual debt to pursue, he hides behind such assumptions never to face the people he burnt.

Executing drug smugglers - should Indonesia follow through?

I am no fan of heroin smuggling, yet I oppose the death penalty too. So I view 20 years in an Indonesian prison as a pretty good penalty for smuggling the despised addictive drug. Many state these guys knew the repercussions of smuggling heroin from Indonesia carried the death penalty, yet they attempted it anyway, so it is pretty fair to say, this isn't a great deterrent - well maybe.

Many claim these guys traffic death and deserve the very same outcome - I disagree. I do not believe in the death penalty yet I feel strong penalties are needed for people who deal in drugs. Bringing heroin into Australia destroys many lives, it is well known that heroin is a highly addictive drug - many people are upset the overly soft Australian penalties. 

Yet, like Sukumaran and Chan; people have the choice to consume heroin, people make an informed choice to consume heroin. Unlike the stories I heard as a teenager, people don't walk down the isles at the movies randomly injecting people to get them hooked. 

You don't catch drug addiction from sitting on a public toilet seat and you are not affected from passive heroin use like innocent people are affected by passive smoking. You could argue they don't create demand, they actually supply a product to a market willing to pay a premium price for a rare commodity.
The situation we have now where the Australian government is seeking clemency for Australian citizens and the Indonesian government is also seeking clemency for its citizens facing the death penalty overseas is becoming farcical.

The Indonesian government will not entertain the position of negotiation despite Indonesian nationals incarcerated in Australian prisons smuggling seven times the amount of Sukumaran and Chan. The Indonesian government knows full well they won't be executed - this weakens their position internationally.

Let's be under no illusions here, Indonesia has freed convicted Indonesian terrorists in the past - drug smugglers from overseas carry much higher political capital and executions are therefore necessary.   
  
The overt use of military force complete with four fighter jets to transport the convicted drug smugglers to the execution island was overkill, you are left in no doubt this is a political decision to prop up an already faltering presidency; trading lives for political mileage - disgraceful.

Diving Menjangan Island

It's been so long since I dived Menjangan Island on Bali's north west shore, I had actually forgotten the dive sites. I do remember parts of it, ripping currents, the washing machine effect where two currents met and a dive guide not up to the job. You start by chartering a boat from Pemuteran, the skipper takes you to the site of your choice, after that, they leave the rest to you.

Hopefully this time will be different I thought, I was looking forward to a few dives in one of Bali's premium sites, needless to say, I wasn't likely to be disappointed.

With good friends, we charted a boat and headed off to the east side of the island. Due to equipment issues and needed to share regulators; we dived in two shifts, as we were diving second we had some time to relax and enjoy the views. Throwing my scuba unit in the water, it was to easy gear up below the surface with no current and then dropping over the wall. For me, no need for a wetsuit, the water is wonderful even at depth, the others preferred neoprene though.

We dived a vastly different location from my last outing, not between Bali and Menjangan as faintly I recall from before. Why did the divemaster make sure a basic mistake last time even after we pointed out to him the severity of the conditions? This time, we were on a wall that dropped off nicely into depth from a very shallow top, I'm guessing our previous divemaster had little experience here just diving Tulumben on a daily basis. Our choice of location may have had something to do with having the author of the latest edition of the Bali diving and snorkeling guide.

We have a serious problem here

The Western world fought the totalitarian threat of communism for 45 years and was ultimately victorious; now the totalitarian threat of Islam once again threatens the freedom of Western values.

These callous cowards seek to silence dissenting voices by waging a war of terror against anyone who dares question their twisted, totalitarian world view. Western values are built on tolerance, it is exactly this tolerance that is allowing intolerance to fester.

We need to acknowledge the unmistakable reality that radical Islam and Western values cannot coexist peacefully. These extremists despise our way of life — our freedom, openness and diversity is an affront to their despotic, backward attitudes.

We must stop pretending these incidents have nothing to do with Islam. They quite clearly have everything to do with extremist Islam and the sooner we admit this truth the better we can work to protect our people and values from this scourge.