Starbucks WiFi

I can't say I think much of their coffee, but the big advantage of a large corporation such as Starbucks is their access to WiFi when traveling around.

The best part is, you don't even need to step in their retail outlet, you can stand outside and access their WiFi from across the street. What I do respect about a company like Starbucks is their marketing, their brand is popular, their product is ordinary but their coverage is extensive.

I think the last time I purchased Starbucks coffee was in New York city wandering around lower Manhattan one morning. No doubt there is better coffee in NYC, I just didn't know where to look. I also purchased some Starbucks bottled ice coffee for a road trip from Daytona Beach to New Orleans in 2014 after the trip to NYC.

So, I guess I can say I am a Starbucks customer of sorts justifying my use of their WiFi connection, although I prefer not to drink their coffee if I can avoid it.

Smoking in public

Smokers are arrogant, they only care about their personal satisfaction and hold everybody else's well-being in contempt. This is a well known and established fact; I am glad I live in Australia where the rights of non-smokers are now no longer infringed upon by smokers.

Increase nicotine taxes, price smoking out of the realm of most budgets, significantly  increase the cost of insurance, limit areas where smoking is allowed including open air venues and locations and prevent smoking during work hours. Why do the smokers get to take off and take a smoke every hour when everyone else has to keep working? This must include only allowing smoking during allocated times - no excuses.

I am constantly appalled at the behaviour of smokers and the need for anti-smoking rules. On my trips to South-East Asia where pretty much no rules exist out of the major centres, I come to understand why such anti-smoking rules apply. When in bars and restaurants people just light up and blow smoke all over you, I have to go home and take a shower and change my clothes as the stench of cigarette smoke leached into everything.

Then there is the health issues, you choose to poison yourself; that's fine, but as a smoker with with a smoking related illness you should be made to pay a significant premium for health, that includes public health services that prevents non-smokers from the poisons they exhale. What gives you the right to blow your cancer causing smoke all over me - fuck you.

Managers not MBAs

Described as a hard look at the soft practice of management, Henry Mintzberg crafts a masterful analysis of contemporary management practice seeking to identify solutions in current management education.

Feeling that the conventional Master of Business Administration programs were teaching students more about the science of management than the art and craft of management, Mintzberg seeks to help organisations survive and thrive.

Mintzberg explores the concept of management as the practice of blending craft, viewed as experience with art, viewed as insight and science, viewed as analysis. Released as a sequel to The Nature of Managerial Work that sought to dispel the myth of overly analytical managers, this current work examines soft management skills lacking in current managers. 

Mintzberg described his personal growing disconnect between the practice of management taught in classrooms of the leading universities and what was really going on in the corporate world. Ironically for myself, I have undertaken all the soft management units to yet no avail.

You really need the scientific knowledge and skills of cost accounting, financial accounting, finance, quantitative analysis, macro-economics, micro-economics and decision making to firstly get a shot at certain jobs and to gain promotion to coveted positions.

My gripe is different, I constantly deal with people who have been promoted beyond their abilities the lacking the prerequisite technical and quantitative skills. Instead I see those possessing only the ability to build close relationships with people in power as their main skill-set. Soft management skills are needed in business, no argument there but they can't be rated higher than technical skills.

We all know what that means, promotions in my workplace are based on friendships and favours, not on skills, so unless you are part of the crony club - better to look for promotions elsewhere. As the old adage goes, if you are not on the inside then you are on the outside. 

Mobile phones and driving

I hate mobile phones, I dislike listening to mobile phone conversations on the train, in line at the check-out or people weaving down the street texting and I especially hate mobile phones and driving.

I hate the pure arrogance and selfishness of people willing to risk people's lives so they can carry out their bullshit conversations. How do I know they are bullshit conversations? Well, I have to overhear these conversations when on the train, bus, coffee shop or supermarket. Apparently these conversations and text messages are more important than the safety of other road users - these people need to take a long hard look at themselves.

Turning 50 and loving it

Fifty isn't the new fourty, I have learned that although in my mind I believe I am cool and relevant. The only problem in this personal delusion being that I was never cool and relevant in the first place. I was already suspicious that this wasn't the case - I guess I can't even fool myself anymore.

You come to the realisation that your life is more than half over; well, that isn't the case if you are planning to live to one hundred I suppose. Since the average male life expectancy in Australia is eighty two then you have reached the halfway point of your life at 41; so based on these scratchy calculations I guess I am already on the downward slide.

Most days I wake up and my kidneys hurt, my right side more than my left. I went from having brilliant sight to wearing glasses to laser vision to still requiring glasses to read. It takes about thirty minutes for my eyes to focus in the morning; not so brilliant went I shave in front of the mirror and miss patches only to identify this on the drive to work. I really should carry an electric razor in the car to fix up all the mistakes.

I'm still running and certainly feel better upon returning. I really do feel better about myself after getting up and heading off in the morning, I hardly run in the evening now although I know I should. My pace isn't great and I guess my running style less so - still, I enjoy the opportunity to think as I run.

As  I walk down the stairs after getting up, my right foot aches with every step, my left knee clicks and I'm still moving gingerly as my perennially torn left hamstring tightens up. If I can convince myself that this isn't hurting and decide to head out for a run, I really enjoy it, this isn't a chore and then home for a short and sharp weights session.

That being said, I am really enjoying this time in my life. I have changed jobs, taken on a career change and with that new challenges. Despite some minor knee and foot issues, I am still pretty mobile and hit the gym, ride my bike and run (albeit slowly now) and I look forward to the next phase of my life because for me, life couldn't get much better.

An aging workforce

As I am involved in training, I deal with the Department of Training and Workforce Development, a state government department concerned with identifying workforce development issues and trends to improve productivity for Western Australia.

Identifying skills gaps is important so as to forecast potential skills shortfalls to develop training strategies to not only provide opportunities for West Australians, such strategies, if implemented should negate the requirement to import costly overseas knowledge and skills so the state may prosper.

One of the identified issues is the aging workforce, during the last boom many older participants stepped up to fill the skills gap, make some extraordinary money and boost their retirement accounts. However, in the lean period when workers were laid off during the bust, this group reached retirement age and duly retired.

The knowledge and skills were not harnessed; younger worker opportunities were not available as training places plummeted as apprentices, trainees and newly certified tradespeople were laid off to save costs. Generally, an engineering based apprenticeship takes four years, that's a long lag period when the economy turns around.

Employers poorly forecast the last boom and then laid off staff during the bust. Now they have been slow to react to the slight upturn and training has not increased to the required levels. Feedback from industry and employer meetings is not positive, they know the next upturn is approaching and have now realised that they are woefully unprepared so the cycle repeats itself.

A nasty downpour

I was in the town of Wurzburg and got caught in a nasty downpour; well, that isn't exactly true, I missed a huge downpour by ducking into a bar and only got a little wet. The bar, as I found out was named Mozart and had a pretty cool ambiance. I scanned for WiFi and saw their connection was named 2Girls 1Router - not bad.

As I was in Germany, a local pilsener was the best choice; after pouring and allowing time to settle, a Tucher was placed in front of me. The staff peered out from behind the bar to look at the rain when their glances turned more wide-eyed. The awning at the front was caught in a wind vortex and lifting up, their concern no doubt was it would be torn off.

After I had paid my bill and left the bar, I noticed the damage caused. Tree branches were torn off, local businesses had furniture strewn around, rubbish was everywhere. As it turns out, my little side trip to the bar was well worthwhile, I missed the downpour, being hit by flying debris and I enjoyed my brief stay at Mozart bar in Wurzburg.

Hay Shed Hill - 2013 Block 6 chardonnay

Awarded 96 points by James Halliday, this excellent chardonnay is described as exhibiting white peach, nectarine and fig fruit with creamy cashew notes balanced with vibrant crisp firm acidity.

Hay Shed Hill is one of my favourite wineries in Western Australia's Margaret River wine region on the South West coast - it's a great place to visit. When I have a break coming up and I am back in Western Australia, I will be heading down south to try out some wines.

So now I have read the tasting notes, what do I actually taste as a wine novice? Bright straw green in colour; the powerful palette indicates a fruit intensity of grapefruit and pear balanced with very fine oak overtones and a tight acidity.

In early 2017 I have drank the last of my 2013 vintage supply and I have been unable to locate any further Block 6 to replenish my cellar - totally bummed. But there is always next year's vintage, I can always stock up with that.

As it is summer in the southern hemisphere, I sail on the weekends and I don't have the weekends free for the three-hour drive from Perth to Margaret River to visit a few wineries. I could just ring up the winery and get them to mail me a case with a dozen bottles - maybe time to get organised.

A master scuba diver c-card

A master scuba certification is a handy c-card to carry, it implies you have at least attended an Advanced Open Water course, so you can dive to 30 metres and are not limited to an 18 metre depth. It also indicates you have attended a Rescue Diver course so you have maybe half a chance of some self-rescue abilities.

The c-card also states you have undertaken five specialty courses and hold at least 50 dives experience, it doesn't notify the dive facilities of while specialties, just that you have undertaken some extra instruction.

This is my c-card of choice when diving at unfamiliar facilities as you tend to be treated as less of a fool and left to your own devices. I believe fronting up with an instructor certification is wanky; the dive staff can work out pretty quickly if you are on your game - I never saw the purpose of big noting yourself.

The fact of the matter is, you are only an instructor when instructing - that is, when being paid to dive. If you are paying to dive, then you are a customer. The Master Scuba Diver c-card is my card of choice even though I can inform the dive resort of my full name and date of birth because even in 2015, connection to the internet is marginal at best and a physical c-card is still best.

Finally getting a decent return

I am finally getting a half decent return on my retirement funds with now a decade to run before I reach the age I can retire from work forever. In Australia, the pension age is 67, that is the age you can receive a government pension if you are unable to self fund your retirement.

For someone like me, I have saved over and above the minimum requirements and I am allowed access to my funds at age 60. Now that I have resigned from that awful high fee National Mutual fund that converted to AXA and finally purchased by AMP.

The Royal Commission into banking including wealth management has uncovered systematic rorting of retirement savings in the high-fee managed funds. I rolled the meager savings I had in private superannuation into Australian Super, the well managed industry superannuation fund.

For all the high fees I paid, the returns were lower than industry funds yet when I requested an audit of all the fees I paid since I joined as an eighteen year old, they replied that I had received statements and I must work it out myself. Likewise, they told me they were making good returns and the fund is able to justify such high fees.

Now I have rolled the funds into my Australian Super account that had more or less the same account balance I am seeing my investment growing. I have seen Australian Super tracking upwards on a decent uptrend, now I am seeing double the growth and very happy.

I understand we are in the final stages of a record bull market as measured by the New York Stock Exchange and further falls will be likely in the future. However, the Australian economy is recovering so we have that to sustain the fund along with commercial property, fixed interest and bonds.

So it is with some irony that I missed out on the boom to those high charges and rolled over my account not long before the market down turned. Had AMP, one of the largest and worst performing funds not taken a year to release my funds, I could have enjoyed more of the upturn.

The Picknicker Swiss Army Knife

I purchased myself one of the newer style Swiss Army Knife on a trip overseas, it went with me everywhere in my daypack. I was really happy with my purchase, I thought the classic style were actually a little small, this is an excellent size.

These days, the Swiss Army Knife has plenty of options and designs, for €32 I was extremely happy to purchase what I would consider a base model with a whole bunch of implements I won't use. I don't need a saw, magnifying glass or scissors; I don't want a cumbersome knife that takes up space.

The Picknicker is a great model, the knife is larger than the classic style Swiss Army Knife that comes complete with a blade, bottle opener, can opener, spike and all important corkscrew. The tweezers and toothpick don't take up any extra space and are welcome additions.

Hanging in Thompson Bay on Rottnest Island

Perth's favourite holiday destination, Rottnest Island is a pretty good place for families couples and singles. The laid back approach is what Rottnest Island is all about, this island is not only just offering relaxation; this is good wholesome fun for everyone to enjoy. 

The main settlement is Thompson Bay with the bulk of the infrastructure and ferry jetty strategically located. I used to travel to Rottnest Island nearly every weekend in summer and pretty frequently over winter for scuba diving rarely setting foot on the island. These days it is more sightseeing and less diving; a new but interesting concept for me.

Of the many bays of Rottnest Island, Thompson Bay by virtue of not only location is the most popular; Thompson Bay has plenty in the way of activities and scenery to keep people interested. Whilst pretty shallow, a number of scuba diving opportunities exist and snorkeling is very popular along with a glass bottom boat offering scenic tours for those not willing to get wet.

During the summer holidays, the moorings in Thompson Bay are busy. They are owned by individuals but can be used by other registered vessels if the owner is not using them. If the owner arrives, the boat moored has to get off for the registered owner so everyone gets a fair go. The mooring maintenance costs are naturally met by the owner but nobody minds a boat hooking up if they are not around.

Teaching entrepreneurship

The major business schools are teaching entrepreneurship as a staple of contemporary business education. Some may question if entrepreneurship can be taught, the initial idea might not be able to be taught; that is inspiration, but the process to develop the idea is what is important.

It is argued plenty of young people naturally possess a natural entrepreneurial spirit; many have great ideas, but what they don’t possess is the technical skills to design a new product, process or service, build a business plan to finance and market their idea. In short, the idea is the easy part - making an idea commercially viable is the challenge and that is where networks count.  

A number of major entrepreneurial business were founded on shoe-string budgets. These high profile businesses began in garages and dorm rooms from Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founding Apple Inc in Steve Jobs parent's garage in 1976 to Bill Gates and Paul Allen started Microsoft in 1975 only a year earlier.

Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin, both PhD students at Stanford University began Google as a research project in 1995; Mark Zuckerburg and Eduardo Saverin began Facebook in Harvard dorm rooms in 2004, but entrepreneurship is not limited to tech start-ups but these businesses are the most conspicuous in the new economy.

Business schools are creating venture labs where projects are developed and budding entrepreneurs are mentored by academic staff and input is provided peers. Industry experts may be brought in to provide technical advice and support; presentations made to angel investors, venture capitalists, bankers or grants officers to finance new ideas.

Business schools are positioned at the forefront of entrepreneurship; I fully believe entrepreneurship should be taught and supported at business schools bringing great ideas to fruition. People have great business ideas but so many start-up businesses fail in the first two years, it is great to see viable business ideas expand and offer employment opportunities to the population. 

No fan of Trump

I'm not an American and I don't live in the United States, I do however have access to US news services such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times so I get plenty of exposure to Donald Trump news.

I am neither a fan of Trump nor a hater of Trump, I think I might be part of a small group of people who are decidedly neutral. I do want Trump to succeed, a strong United States is a positive influence for the western world so I don't want his government to fail.

Is he going to drain the swamp? No, that's highly unlikely. Is he articulate and a strong public speaker? Nope, he is not and his mannerisms do annoy me. Is Trump stupid? I don't believe so, he did graduate from Wharton Business School after all and I believe his billionaire status allows him to hire some pretty decent advisers.

He is a narcissist, that is for sure, it would be difficult to defend that claim. But since we, and supposedly Trump himself knows it, how can these narcissistic traits be harnessed for positive outcomes?

Trump engages in name calling and bullying behavior so what do his opponents do? They, like a bunch of dumbarses then engage Trump in name calling and insults and really become ineffective as an opposition. As an outsider looking in, he really makes them look stupid and he then controls the narrative.

When his political opponents recruit a bunch of celebrity spokespeople to engage in anti-Trump rhetoric, they come off looking like amateurs. Robert De Niro is a fantastic actor, no doubt about that. But when De Niro is on camera screaming “Fuck Trump, Fuck Trump” he is not doing anyone's cause any favours, he just comes across as an idiot.

I am no follower of this celebrity cult that has permeated throughout American popular culture, I won't be deriving political views from the likes of Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, P!nk or even Bruce Springsteen. I place as much credibility in their endorsement as I would for Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie or those Kardashian sisters that I would be unable to name.

If the Democrats want to beat this guy then they shouldn't be recruiting a whole cohort of public figures so removed from mainstream America that they lose all credibility. I went to a P!nk concert at the Perth Arena in 2018 and Alecia banged on about Trump during her excellent show.

But guess what, neither myself nor anyone else at her concert is eligible to vote in US elections so that was a pointless exercise. If she had a project or cause such as saving the Sumatran tiger and had facilities to accept donations along with donating a portion of the concert taking towards the cause.

Then I would be interested in donating. But when her support is limited to banging on about Trump at a concert, I not only turn off but I feel more inclined to support Trump and I don't even especially like the guy.

This is just a feel good moment for her that is largely ineffective and could even increase support for Trump in some instances - who would have guessed. There is no need to rattle on about his hair or skin colour, that achieves nothing. If you want to oppose the government of Donald Trump, stick to facts and policy - that generally works.