Two Omega for one Rolex

There are generally two camps within watch collecting circles, the Rolex camp and the Omega camp. I sit within the Omega camp but that doesn't mean I don't respect the Rolex product, I just prefer Omega over Rolex.

This also comes down to personal finances, I am the owner of three Omega timepieces; however, one of those was given to me. So, really I purchased two Omega timepieces and I made sure I did so at the low point of Swiss watch sales.

I purchased a Seamaster and a Speedmaster from the same duty free shop at Perth International Airport. What I didn't know then was that they were getting out of luxury watch sales, the watch shop is no longer operational so they were selling off inventory in anticipation of closing.

I did not know this, I would like to take credit for some pretty decent negotiating but this would be a stretch. So now I am in possession of a Seamaster Diver 300 reference 212.30.41.29.03.001 and a Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch reference 311.30.42.30.01.005 and I couldn't be happier.

I have two iconic Omega timepieces for the price of a single Rolex and I am pretty happy with that. Whilst it is argued Rolex retains resale value, that is correct, I am not looking to sell either timepiece so for me is is not a purchase strategy - I just like these two iconic timepieces.

Manufacturing consent in recruitment and selection

At university we studied Noam Chomsky, he is an American social commentator who places an emphasis media concentration from a left-wing media viewpoint. His best known work is Manufacturing Consent, a critical view of media concentration in the United States and well worth reading.

Taking a similar view to Chomsky, I view the blatant disregard for public sector standards in regards to selection and recruitment as manufacturing consent. That is manufacturing consent for dodgy selection practices equal to workplace cronyism.

When you promote people into jobs without established processes, you are basically endorsing their status within the confines of a department or business unit. This is a case of accepting corrupt selection practices whilst manufacturing consent for public sector abuses.

Whilst Chomsky writes about right-wing media concentration, I ask, what is the difference between left-wing public service jobs allocation for pre-selected mates and acquaintances? Are they both not manufacturing consent, albeit in differing circumstances?

I am a huge believer in merit selection, the best candidate is awarded the position free from nepotism, cronyism, personal influences and favouritism. I believe applications should be lodged without a name, an anonymous code or prefix is generated with physical interviews held anonymously via electronic means.

These requirements would heavily restrict departmental influence, then and only then would the best person be hired for the job and while I am sure there are some that would try to influence decisions this would greatly limit their abilities to make dodgy appointments.

Government agencies should require all selection and recruitment process be undertaken by independent recruitment agents contracted to government departments. Whilst the head of department should be on the selection panel, the chair should be independent so no interference is registered.

Furthermore, with a clause inserted in the contract that results in breach of contract including both termination of contract and financial costs, there would be a heavy disincentive to collude in candidate selection. Maybe one day we can rid the public sector of the corrupt practices that hinder public services.

The long arm of the law in Western Australia

Since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the subsequent worldwide riots have been in the news. It certainly didn't help the case of the US police with the shooting of Rayshard Brooks outside the Wendy's fast food outlet in Atlanta. 

Whilst I believe we shouldn't be importing US problems, every state in Australia funds and runs their own police force and while we may have some issues, the police are pretty impressive. On the South West coast of Western Australia, a man was fishing off rocks before being swept into the water, he was not a strong swimmer but was able to scramble to safety. 

A police officer climbs down to grab this guy, based on this still photograph, you cannot see the exhausted man slip and the strong grip of the untethered police officer haul him to safety. The police officer certainly put his personal safety at risk and the result was outstanding. An excellent outcome for all involved, but there was plenty of concern for the police officer, it was a pretty close call.

Cathay Pacific flights

It's been a long time since I have flown Cathay Pacific, it was a pleasant experience and I hope to fly with them again in the future.

I flew Perth to Hong Kong, a short stopover and then onto Cebu just before Christmas for a week returning on Christmas eve. Despite all the problems occurring in Hong Kong at the moment, there was no disruptions.

The return flight was good but the connections were less so, I had an 20:05 flight from Cebu arriving at 22:58. The question was then, do I get a hotel for the night or sleep at the airport? Being a cheap bastard, the airport sleepover was the option for me.

The last thing I need is stamps in my passport so while I was interested in catching the train into Kowloon to look around for the morning as my 15:05 flight offered me plenty of time, the potential disruptions with protesters and missing my flight just wasn't worth it.

For me, that's a real shame as these hub destinations give me the opportunity for a look around. I have been to Hong Kong before but there is so much I haven't seen. I guess this will be another trip as I hope to be flying Cathay Pacific in the future.

Sipadan diving

You don't get to stay on Sipadan Island anymore, these days diving is conducted by fast boat from Mabul and Kapoli even though  I have dived Sipadan for a number of years, while this is a shame - it was an absolutely necessary decision.

The landing jetty is located in shallow water, the end of the jetty ends on the edge of deep water, a diver can step off the end of the jetty into 660 metres of water. Although, I have never seen anyone step off the jetty for a dive.

Palau Sipadan, the legendary dive site was rated in Jacques Cousteau's top ten dive sites of the world. This magnificent island is well managed by the Malaysian government allowing a biodiversity unrivaled in the region.

Hanging out on Sipadan Island between dives, is reasonably fun, you don't goo too far away. After a bite to eat and a drink, a swim is a pretty good activity in the shallow waters surrounding the island - a short swim to the edge to look over the drop-off.

Lazing on the beach between dives, this would have to be one of the best surface intervals I have had. Spending ten days up in Sabah, we resided at Kapoli taking fast boats to Sipadan Island, my favourite was the early morning dives.

I chose the early morning dive heading out in the dark to hit the water just as the sun was rising to search for hammerhead sharks. Returning to Kapoli for breakfast, a further two dives around the island before the final dives around Kapoli.

Starbucks Philippines WiFi

In what may be considered a tightening trend, Starbucks Coffee in the Philippines now only offers a timed WiFi connection on receipt of a purchase.

The WiFi connection times out after an hour and requires a code to be sent to your phone. For myself, I was only carrying an iPad and not a mobile phone. I wasn't able to connect without the code.

Fortunately a staff member happened to be asking about my I store experience and used his personal mobile phone to connect me to the store WiFi. That's pretty decent personal service for a coffee retailer not known for their service.

Boomer remover

This really made me annoyed when I heard millennials mocking the deaths of people during the coronavirus pandemic. Finding joy in the misery and death of others is sick, even for a self-absorbed generation only interested in self-promotion on the latest social media platforms.

These retarded pieces of shit are clueless, this is why we need to invest more in the education system and less on Twitter and social media platforms. Ok, so the boomer generation is the result of the baby boom from the end of World War II. The European war ended in May 1945 and the Pacific war in September of the same year. Right, so military personnel needed to be repatriated back to their countries so it is fair to say the baby boom generation begins in 1946.

The boomer generation ended in 1964 so if we pull a calculator out, 2020 - 1946 = 74 for the oldest boomers and 2020 - 1964 = 56 for the youngest boomers. So, looking at the numbers, the generation most affected by Covid-19 is the generation preceding the Baby Boomer generation, known as the Silent Generation [sometimes referred to as the greatest generation] who lived through a depression and world war. 

Pull your heads in you mindless losers, the generation at greatest risk is the greatest generation and we have an obligation to do what it takes to ensure their safety. You money grabbing bottom dwellers have one eye on their wealth earnt over a lifetime with the sole intention of getting your filthy hands on their housing and retirement accounts - morons. 

Diving nitrox with Easy Diving - Sipalay

Much has been written on the advantages of diving nitrox; adding to the conversation, we know some of the nitrogen has been replaced with oxygen to decrease inert gas uptake.

No-decompression limits for a given depth may be extended as original air profiles are calculated with a nitrogen load of roughly 79% Using a 32% oxygen blend, the nitrogen is now reduced to 68% allowing an equivalent air depth to be calculated.

A diver may descend to a given depth and calculate nitrogen upload at the reduced nitrogen amount allowing extended no-decompression limits. Whilst some suggest they feel better after a dive, there is no evidence to verify this claim although I admit to feeling less fatigued.

My dive trip to Sipalay, Philippines saw me diving with nitrox for free, a slogan promoted extensively in the Red Sea a number of years back. I see a real advantage of multi-level diving with nitrox in the 21 to 30 metre range.

Whilst I prefer a 36% mix, most agencies err on the side of caution promoting conservative partial pressures of 1.4 atmospheres. I learnt nitrox with IANTD where a maximum partial pressure of 1.6 ata was used and a best gas mix of 1.5 ata was calculated to maximise the advantages of nitrox.

Regardless, EAN32 is the standard mix and although not the best mix for diving to 30 metres, this blend still offers plenty of advantages over air and since it is readily available, this is a good choice for many profiles.

Easy Diving, a German dive resort in operation since 2003 offers nitrox to certified divers at no extra cost increasing bottom time without the need to limit time at depth. As most of the multi-level dives are within this range, any advantage allowing time at depth is greatly appreciated.

I noticed the dive centre offered a five-hour enriched air nitrox course to certify divers and unlock the potential of the area. As I have dived extensively throughout the Philippines, I have found it extremely rare to dive with nitrox outside of the high traffic areas of Puerto Galera and Bohol.

Whilst technical dive centres offer nitrox for open circuit decompression diving and closed circuit rebreather, the use of nitrox is becoming mainstream in the Philippines. This is a dive resort aligned to recreational diving in some pretty pristine waters, they have good boats and outstanding service.

The cylinder contents analysing station is easy to use, it is connected to the wall, a base cylinder of air is used to calibrate the analyser and the individual cylinders are tested and the log filled out. In these days of easy nitrox diving, Easy Diving has their procedure well sorted.

This process is simple, as Easy Diving uses a membrane and not partial pressure blending, the gas mix is always the same - you are just checking. The diver then sets their nitrox mix in their computer and they are off - this really is easy diving.

A quick trip to Iloilo City

I visited Iloilo city for a single day on a dive trip; I must say, I wasn't much impressed with the city. Whilst I found the island of Panay reasonably interesting, I found Iloilo City dirty and run down.

They had a large shopping mall that I visited during the evening, there wasn't much going on during a Sunday afternoon. Saturday night wasn't exciting, it was a boring Saturday night. Due to the ineptness of Cebu Pacific, my morning flight saw me arrive after dark on Saturday night so I never got to create a great first impression.

The city really needs to get their act together, they need to get the roads fixed, the footpaths neat and straight and the rubbish cleaned up. If the city is left dirty and run down, the residents will lack the pride in the city and treat it accordingly; this is a city in a dire need of an facelift.

The art of storytelling

I look up to a number of authors, whilst I read modern literature, I think I prefer authors from a bygone era, their prose was free flowing and wonderfully descriptive. For me, I feel a sense of belonging with these literary greats, you feel part of the fun.

Of my favourite authors of past eras are Somerset Maugham, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald as all three offer excellent explanations of life in Paris in the period of exuberance after World War I.

The Great War as is described took its toll on Europe with wide ranging ramifications for the whole world. Life in Paris was filled with fun and joy with the Bohemian set drinking and partying while no doubt collaborating on ideas and themes.

Maugham was part of the literary circle who tends to float in and out, Hemingway was the larger than life figure who partied hard with Fitzgerald writing his epic novel of the jazz age in the lead up to the stock market crash of 1929.

I began with reading Fitzgerald’s short stories and essays before moving onto his masterpiece The Great Gatsby. Likewise, I have volumes of Maugham’s short stories but The Razor’s Edge is what sets Maugham apart.

Whilst Hemingway’s masterpiece is The Old Man and the Sea, written at the end of his career down in Cuba is his famous work. For Whom the Bell Tolls, Death in the Afternoon and The Sun Always Rises are my favourites along with his short stories and essays.

The Baume & Mercier Clifton series

I really like the look of the Baume & Mercier Clifton series timepiece; this elegant timepiece is well marketed seeking a somewhat more distinguished customer not following the well worn trends of sports watches.

Whilst I probably won't be racing out to purchase a Baume & Mercier anytime soon, I am happy to admire this timepiece as an interested consumer. I particularly like the marketing approach of the stylish European gentleman who follows his own style instead of being a trend devote - well played.

Unfortunately, Baume & Mercier doesn't have the brand awareness of the major watchmaking manufacturers; yet, I have found myself drawn to the Clifton series. I did see their watches on display in Europe, less so in South East Asia and Oceania.

The Clifton is inspired by classic museum reference timepiece; I was under the impression that the Clifton series was an older style timepiece that remained on their list, but this is a relative newcomer to their collection.

I first came across Baume & Mercier whilst wandering through some malls in the Philippines with entire stores dedicated to the Baume & Mercier range. Now that become acquainted with this manufacturer, I have noticed Baume & Mercier merchandising desks in major watch retailers internationally.

However, brand awareness remains an issue with sometimes up to a dozen or so stands in a crowded retail space. Sitting within the specialised watchmaker segment of the Richemont Group, Baume & Mercier are surrounded by prestige watchmakers with their collective marketing and distribution channels.

This manufacturer has the exposure potential. Baume & Mercier really needs to attract classic timepiece aficionados portraying themselves as a viable alternative to the more notable and popular brands - I really hope they succeed.

The Vasse Felix Classic Dry Series

I have been a big fan of Vasse Felix wines for a very long time now. Whilst my favourites are their Margaret River cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and chardonnay; the classic dry range is worth visiting.

 

The Classic Dry White is a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with the citrus flavours of the Semillon complementing the passionfruit of the Sauvignon Blanc. Whilst summer is over for now, I will make sure I am stocked up for Christmas.

The Classic Dry Red surprised me, I had always thought it was a blend. So when I found out it was 100% shiraz, that was not what I expected, I had always thought it was a Cab/Shiraz blend. Even more surprising was 100% French oak maturation for 12 months, this was a mix one year to five year old barriques.

For a very long time I thought the Classic Dry Red was a better drink than their Cabernet Merlot, I am reconsidering my preferences now. The Cab/Merlot is a pretty decent drop, but it is a different range to the Classic Dry Red and pitched at a different price point. 

Laureate Australia - they don't even accept the qualifications they award

We had an economic slowdown in Australia with a tight jobs market and stagnant wage growth. Whilst still employed, I was seeking to expand my career and began seeking enhanced job opportunities. In 2018 I applied for the role of Head of Learning Experience Design at Laureate Australia and never received a reply.

I have a Bachelor of Training and Development from an Australian university that wasn't awarded by Laureate Australia. However, I did hold at the time of application twelve years experience in an educational leadership role and a Master of Business Administration from Torrens University.

Whilst I fully understand that does not guarantee me a job, you would expect the university who awarded your highest qualification to at least offer a response regarding your application to an advertised job. I appreciate there may be better qualified and experienced applicants who applied, but surely your alumni would receive the courtesy of at least an acknowledgement of an unsuccessful application. 

I did not even receive a reply from Laureate Australia let alone a shortlisting. It would appear that Laureate Australia does not place a premium on the qualifications they award. It certainly didn't improve my employment prospects on this occasion. I spent a great deal of money on my Torrens University education, surely some feedback on why my application was unsuccessful would be warranted.

When the qualification you received is not highly regarded from the university that granted the award that you are using to further your career. It is understandable that other potential employers will place even less emphasis and value on a Torrens University MBA than they do.