Who in Australia has a Blackberry anymore?

I own an older style Blackberry 8520 Curve smartphone - I suppose I'm just not cool. I work in the college system with plenty of young guys sporting either a Samsung Galaxy or an Apple iPhone. I know this because I have daily issues with these guys never wanting to leave their phones alone in class.

Before I upgraded to my secondhand Blackberry in 2013, I was still using an older Nokia handset, actually I was happy with that as Nokia products are very reliable. I know the Blackberry is the former phone of London and New York stockbrokers engaged in high finance, now it is merely the secure phone of politicians, yet I am happy with this older technology. I gained my Blackberry in South East Asia where the product is still well represented, I know of no one in Australia who actually owns one.

Penfolds Bin 9

Perth had been experiencing heavier than usual late autumn rains; the temperature was sure to drop with all the moisture around, the only saviour being the the cloudy skies possibly locking some of the little warmth that had developed during the day on the rare occasion the sun poked through the clouds during the day.

I originally thought it's been ages since I have knocked the cap off a Bin 9 cabernet sauvignon because I couldn't remember drinking one in a long long time; I was surprised to find out this is a relatively new addition to their range, the 2012 Bin 9 is their first release. A little research found I had mistaken the Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz, first released in 2003 with the bottle perched alongside me.

The Bin 9 is an excellent example of South Australian wine making with the majority of fruit sourced from the McLaren Vale region, reviewing the tasting notes, I also see fruit was sourced from the Langhorne Creek, Barossa, Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra and Wrattonbully regions. 

The deep ruby colour ensures one needs to be very careful around clothes, vehicle paint or any object likely to become stained. The wine was drinking well now, I couldn't distinguish big tannins or acid holding this wine together, I expect a medium term cellaring potential only, probably 3 -5 years max. Viewing the tasting notes, I stand corrected - the Penfolds team believes this wine may be cellared right up to 2015.

Fine oak flavours shine through with hints of cedar, an overarching blackcurrent note with mixed spice in the aftertaste. Once again viewing the tasting notes, I see the Bin 9 was matured for 12 months in French and American oak hogsheads with 12% new French oak and 15% new American oak. I liked it and will be buying in the future - this time, I will have done my research and will pay the right price at my usual choice of bottle shop.

Walking on the moon

One of the most enduring photographs of the Apollo 11 moon walks was Buzz Aldrin standing on the moon's surface with Neil Armstrong's reflection in his visor along with the leg of the lunar module.

During their two hour lunar surface sojourn; the Apollo 11 moonwalk didn't venture far from the lunar module, the greatest distance ventured was 60 metres from the Eagle, instead setting up science experiments such as retro reflectors and collecting samples. Amazingly, the moon landing lasted a duration of 21 hours encompassing the initial landing, preparing for lift-off, preparing for the moonwalk, repairing damage to the engine arming switch, a sleep and lift-off.
    
Some would argue this program was a waste of money, the moon landings produced no real scientific outcomes and was even faked. I am amazed at the engineering and the fact NASA, some 45 years later is unable to return to the moon's surface anytime soon and no other nation has landed humans on the moon's surface. The Apollo project, despite a number of setbacks was an categorical success - planned Mars exploration is built on the foundations of the Apollo moon landings.

The building of character in the junior league

Having a teenage nephew, I have both the pleasure and responsibility of going down and watching him play junior league football. This is Australian Rules football, played all over the nation and increasingly in other countries as well now - this is a new development.  

He graduated from the shorter half grounds in 2012 to the full length grounds, this opens the play up showing a genuine skills advantage to kids who can move the ball quickly and accurately. In the younger competition, girls are able to play in the same team as the boys - a mixed team gives everyone an opportunity. Once adolescence is reached, the team moves to single sex as the game becomes a little harder and physical although I understand they have women's competitions around the country. 

Some say Australian Rules football is too brutal, too difficult and too injury prone, I disagree wholeheartedly. Juniors, like senior players only wear a mouthguard as protection, an umpire adjudicates with fair play rewarded. You are more likely to suffer soft tissue injuries from muscle tears attributed to running than bone injuries at this level.   

Sure, the players have to get down to ground level to win the hard ball - this is character building. Playing to the best of your ability in a team environment, getting in and winning the hard ball, showing commitment to training and practice and providing assistance to your team mates. Sport mirrors life, the lessons learned in competition and training help shape the youth for their entry into the broader community. 

Back diving in Anilao

It has been a year, but finally I am back diving in Anilao with Ronnie, Rene and the rest of the team at Anilao Diving. I enjoy diving here, this isn't the best diving in the Philippines - yet I like diving here with this crew.

An excellent start to diving saw us lead off with a 70 minute dive followed by after the surface interval with an 84 minute dive before heading back across the bay to aquaVenture for lunch and a 70 minute afternoon dive.

I once again stayed at the excellent aquaVenture resort, the weekend was very busy with the usual groups out from Manila.

My trip last year saw me staying at Mayumi Resort in the same area, I do prefer the location of my 2012 trip much more. It isn't cheap by Philippine standards, but nonetheless, it is my preferred option.

During the week, the resort was much quieter, a Chinese group kept the place busy. They had some TDI technical courses goin on, some rebreathers and sidemounts set-ups, there was plenty of doubles and stage cylinders on hand too.

Weekdays are normally pretty quiet as their usual Manila based clientele is busy working for the weekend. The last time I stayed here, I was the sole person in the resort, another group booked in as the Chinese group was heading back so the place is busy as the Philippine summer was starting.

The sunsets over the water are excellent, it is a hassle carting wine from Manila, yet sitting out watching the sunset makes the hassle worthwhile.

The falacy of union leadership

Australian trade unions are decrying the royal commission into trade union corruption, this is, of course, of grievest concern to past and present trade union leaders. The royal commission will examine methodology and tactics individuals utilise when they misuse their privileged role as trade union officials for political advancement and self-enrichment. 

When a trade union official gouges funds from a business enterprise; this occurs because the business enterprise is purchasing a commodity of value to the business, it could be industrial harmony, prevention of strike action or work to rule, hindrance, industrial espionage, willful destruction, theft, bullying, harassment, intimidation and actual violence. As the self-elected custodians of employee rights, union officials have just two products to sell - employee rights or political assistance.

Union officials must be subject to stricter supervision and greater regulation than company directors. After all, the company director represents the interests of the organisation; should that director act in a manner that is contrary to the interests of the organisation, the director is held personally culpable. The director has to prepare annual reports and lodge to the Australian Securities and & Investments Commission (ASIC); the accounts are prepared by registered accountants and reviewed by auditors.  

A trade union is the recipient of funds gained from members, that is employees paying fees derived through their employment (usually a percentage these days); strict financial management including a general ledger (recording revenue, expenses, assets and liabilities), cash records, debtor and sales records, inventory records, investment records and wage & superannuation liabilities. Trade unions don't pay tax, a ruling by the Australian Taxation Office means trade unions are flush with cash and reduced responsibilities.    

The well worn political narrative sold to workers is Labor party is the protector of the worker while the Liberal party is the voice of big business, any neutral observer can see this no longer applies. Trade unions have traditionally relied on confusing worker's rights with union rights - the union pitch is we fight for your rights; therefore, if union rights are curtailed, then worker rights and privileges are under attack. 

What really happens is when union membership is reduced, union influence is curtailed - hence the huge fight to maintain compulsory union membership on industrial work sites. I still recall the days of NO TICKET - NO START, you were not allowed to even set foot on the work site without current union membership, you had to produce the ticket on demand, hence my required union membership back in the 1980s and 1990s. 

Trade union leaders repeatedly cast the Liberal party as the protector of big business; however, trade unions negotiate regularly with big business, not small business enterprises that have little to no union membership. 

It is of particular irony that the Liberal party is aligned to small business while the Labor party is aligned to big business. Labor may soon be recast as the party big business while the Liberal party may be recast as the party of the ordinary worker - who would have thought?

the Bottle-O - where are their priorities?

I was at my local shopping centre picking up some groceries and decided at the last moment to pick up a bottle of wine for a Friday evening watching Hawthorn v Sydney on the television. I can honestly say I made an impulse purchase as I had four bags of groceries still in my hands. I previously supported this liqueur store when it was owned by a couple of old guys who were very amicable, I chose to support smaller independent retailers who offered personalised service, I was aware they were unable to compete on price alone - you accepted that. 

I was doing a search of Penfolds Bin 9 later that evening and found much to my surprise found Dan Murphy's was retailing the same wine for $28.30 per bottle. My local liqueur store, the Bottle-O, sold me a 2012 vintage for $38.99 - not happy. Now the Dan Murphy's price is pretty good, an average price is closer to $30 per bottle is acceptable, this is an unacceptable price difference.

Now the Bottle-O is a national chain, as such, they have bulk buying power, while their purchasing power may be somewhat less than the larger chains, this is by no means a small chain. It appears the Bottle-O seems to be more interested in sponsoring V8 super cars than passing on cost savings to customers - you are left in no doubt to where their priorities sit. This is not an organisation seeking to build a long term sustainable competitive advantage and a loyal client base.   

Ok, so the Bottle-O made the sale tonight, what I can say is enjoy your V8 super cars and watch your customers leave you en-masse in the digital age, you caught me out tonight on an impulse sale - that won't happen again.