A gang of Australian graffiti artists have just been jailed in the UK. The response by Australians in the Telegraph, one of the Sydney papers pleasantly surprised me.
Here are some of the comments;
If our magistrates (Aust) had delt with them, cahrges would have been dismissed and costs awarded against the arresting police. I would like to see them before a Singapore Court. Jail and a flogging!
Well now you can try your ‘art’ in a shared cell.
Now this is a win-win scenario. The little pests are in jail and the Pommies - not us - are paying their keep.
So, after they finish their sentence in the UK, are they going to be deported to each and every other country they ‘tagged’ and serve sentences there? Please, oh please, let it be!
Good on the Brits for giving them what they deserve - jail time. Sydney’s being ruined by these gutter rats.
Sydney judges please take note.
I bet these little dirty rodents wouldn’t dare scribble their crap in Saudi Arabia.
Only one comment in support…. Why are people so against graffiti. It brightens the place up and has been around as long as people. To consider it vandalism is simplistic.
Well some fairly strong opinions there. To the last comment - I wonder if it were your house being ‘vandalized’ each night if your opinion would be the same!
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Many problems encountered overseas can be avoided with a bit of common sense and by taking some simple precautions.
We all have our own way of doing things, but over the next few weeks I plan to pass on a few tips and ideas that have held me in good stead over the years. So here we go…..
1. Take out travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, like adventure sports, in which you plan to participate. Many years ago, I was caught out when a tooth blew up on me when traveling in Japan. Being young, invincible, I never gave insurance a second thought. So although it was a minor (but very painful) medical condition it cost me a couple of weeks travel budget! Far worse can happen and so insurance for me is now a must….especially when traveling with family.
2. Check the latest travel advice for your destination from your governments travel website. They are usually kept very up to date and may have some information that you didn’t hear about on the news.
3. At the risk of stating the obvious - obey the law of the country you’re visiting. Don’t expect to be treated any better or differently to the locals. Your in their culture so respect it and the people around you, its their home. If you have an issue with this then remind yourself how you feel when you may have seen tourists act badly in your home town.
4. Make copies of your important documentation. ie passport, insurance policy, travellers’ cheques, visas and credit card etc. If traveling alone then carry a copy in a separate place to the originals, if paired up carry a back-up for each other but again separate from the originals. Its also a good idea to leave a copy at home so you have another back-up. Along with that ensure you have the right visas for the countries you are visiting or transiting.
5. Check with your doctor for recommended vaccinations and the necessary health precautions to take. Remember also that certain medicines may not be allowed in some countries - so check.
6. Even if you don’t stay in close contact with friends and family, at least give someone a copy of your itinerary so they know where you are. This may not be so much of an issue if you are on a tour, but if back-packing the jungles of South America etc then its a good move.
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Image by thinkpanama via FlickrBaby Boomers retirement is one of the themes that keeps popping up on blogs all over the web, and indeed in mainstream print as well lately.
As a boomer, but towards the end of the bubble I am becoming even more concerned over what is likely to happen to the world economy in the next few years. As with most people, I have hit a few financial roadbumps along the way and now wonder if my nestegg will be enough. I am sure I am not Robinson Crusoe when it comes to this!
One guy that seems to have been spot on with many forecasts over the past 15-20 years is Harry Dent. His new slant on things takes into account first and foremost, yes - Baby Boomers. We as a group are so much bigger than the population groups both ahead and behind that we as a group have unduly influenced fads and trends since we were tots and consumed huge quantities of Gerber baby food.
We continue to and the in the near future it is the real estate market and the stresses on medical services that will test not just us as a group but our society and the world economy as a whole.
For example, in the US alone 76+ million baby boomers are going to be moving into smaller houses or even retirement homes. Who is going to buy your house? There aren’t enough x and y gen following to take up the slack.
Anyway…..don’t take my word. Here are a couple of paragraphs from Wikipedia re Mr Dent and his theories: “In the early 1990s, he predicted that the DOW would reach 10k. This prediction was met with much skepticism. In 2000, he predicted that the DOW would reach 40k, a prediction which was repeated in his 2004 book. In his book, he also predicted the Nasdaq will reach 13-20k. In January 2006, he predicted that the DOW would reach 14-15,000 by the end of the year. It ended 2006 at 12463, 11% below the lower end of his prediction. It ended 2007 at 13264, again significantly lower than Dent’s revised prediction of 15000 by early 2008. Since then, the Dow crossed 14,000 in late 2007 before retrenching.”
He has been spot on as you can see. But what worries me are the following:
“In contemporary economics, Harry Dent has popularized the baby-boomer age-wave theory. According to him, as a result of baby boomers retiring, the US stock-market will peak between 2007 and 2009. This prediction is based on his observation that consumer spending peaks near age 50.
Schieber and Shoven suggest gradual peaking of social security trust fund around 2007-2009.
Some experts expect the worst consumer recession since 1980 as aging boomers start retiring, adding to rising unemployment, decline in house values, and declining stock prices. However other experts have suggested that immigration to the US and rise of emerging economies will offset the demographic impact”.
Just food for thought…….. Is the big house you are in going to hold its value? What of the retirement nest egg, and should that be looked at again if we go into a drepression as is predicted?
Sure things will go up in the long run…..but how long? How old are you now?
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Image via WikipediaThis is not something I want to think about for a while yet ….. but for those of us with aged parents its worth consideration. Its not only for the handicapped!!!
Handicapped or aged persons can find taking a bath a much more difficult and complicated process than a fit able bodied individual. A handicapped person has things to consider that we often don’t realize and this includes when buying things like bath tubs. Accessibility will often be one your main points of concern. Another point to consider is what safety measures have been incorporated in the particular handicap bath tub you are looking at.
Of course much of this will be determined by the nature of the handicap and its severity. Locking gates, power seats, and easy access and exit points are features that will ensure your bathing needs are met in safety, comfort, and ease of use. Created to meet the needs and requirements of the handicapped person, these bath tubs are safe even for those with limited or little mobility.
The health benefits from Jacuzzis and hot tubs are quite well known and walk in tubs can also have the same effect. Normal designs for this type of bath tub include a seat where the user can sit as the bath tubs have easy access and can be higher and deeper. This easy to enter and exit tub prevents slipping or the need to bend down to recline in the tub. To get around the problem of washing while in a seated position, shower heads are fitted to the top edge which means taking a shower is a simple process. The handicapped bath tubs that are fitted with additional features such as whirlpools, massage sprays and hydrotherapy can completely transform the bathing experience for users with aching and tired muscles.
The medical needs of handicapped bathers is taken very seriously with bath tubs available in a wide variety of depths, sizes and features guaranteed to give them a bathing experience not normally possible. If you want a bath tub with all the attachments for a hydrotherapy massage and also whirlpool features then you won’t get much change from 6,000 dollars but lower specification models are around 3,000 dollars. You may find that your Medicare insurance may contribute a percentage of the cost (sometimes all) if the tub is purchase because of disability or age. The insurance agent should be able to tell you if this is possible. This type of bath tub has contributed greatly to the comfort and safety of those handicapped or elderly people who have up until now had enormous problems bathing and made it something they can look forward to.
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Image via WikipediaFood for thought……
It’s becoming quite normal for people to install alarm systems in this ever-changing society in which we live. In fact, security systems have become a must have addition to many homes these days in some areas. The thought of home alarms had never entered my mind, because I grew up during a decade where we trusted others and could leave our doors unlocked without consequence. Society today finds that to be the direct opposite to how it used to be. Since I am now a parent, I’ve become increasingly aware of society’s ills and as a consequence, I have been taking a look at the financial involvement of having a home alarm.
I only realized some time ago that most new cars come equipped with alarms. A BMW I purchased came equipped with an alarm, but I have no idea if the alarm has stopped anyone from entering my vehicle, because I am not aware of anyone who ever tried to do so. The auto insurance company also provides me with a discount and I suppose I do get some reassurance from knowing it is there.
Capable and reliable alarm systems are almost mandatory for businesses no matter what size they may be if they want continued insurance protection. Like more and more people are doing these days, I am going to have an alarm system installed at home. After a while considering this I finally decided to look into getting more information on home security. What I didn’t know was that they not only help prevent someone entering your home but can help avoid other dangers too. The benefits of having one set up in your home are enormous.
Now that I know that these types of alarms can detect fire and the deadly carbon monoxide gas, I feel very reassured. Not only are they protection from those threats, but they can help with medical emergencies too. Since I am now responsible for small child and the local crime rate worsening, looking into home security became a critical choice that I had to make. After the kidnappings of children from where they lived made national papers, radio and TV I became more concerned about the situation.
My daughter has her bedroom on the first floor, where it would be too easy if anyone ever decided that they wanted to break in and commit a crime. The thought brought back harsh reality and I started to look seriously into home security systems. I truly believed that making this decision was the best way to keep her safe. My insurance company is also helping me to save money as they give people who have alarm systems fitted a lower monthly premium as a result. Sure, home security might cost you more money out of your pocket each month but to me you cannot put a value on that type of safety. In terms of wealth, feeling safe when you are in your home is worth a fortune.
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