In this deceptively simple 3-minute talk, Laura Trice muses on the power of the magic words "thank you" -- to deepen a friendship, to repair a bond, to make sure another person knows what they mean to you. Try it. (Recorded February 2008 in Monterey, California. Duration: 03:34.) (Thanks to TED.com)
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Silver lining in the financial crisis cloud
So the US congress pulled its' finger out, or should I say, pork barrelled its way out of total financial melt down hysteria, and passed the "confidence restoration" $700 billion USD Wall Street bail out.
Because some people are saying that the banks have liquidity i.e. credit to lend; they just don't trust anyone anymore, not even each other. Now there's confidence for you.
The people who loaned money like it was created out of thin air so they could loan it to anyone who asked for it, have now decided they don't trust each other, so the rest of us pay the price?
Whether the bail out, err ... liquidity confidence building, actually does anything, remains to be seen in the reactions from the NZ and Asia openings tomorrow, what with Australia being closed for the (ironic smirk) Labour Day holiday long weekend.
Anyways, a different buzz seems to be happening now, with talk generally turning to funding "nation building" projects rather than credit bail outs, to avert another Great Depression scenario.
Some visionaries have long been talking about the green economy. And now pundits seem to be jumping on the "green collar" jobs bandwagon, and the opportunities for transformation of the polluting sectors of the world economy into low carbon emission economic drivers.
More recently in the Australian industrial heartlands, we've seen union leaders finally get the message.
In the words of noted industrialist, Henry J Kaiser;"Problems are opportunities in work clothes".
And let's face it, right now we're (collectively) facing a couple of doozies! The global warming crisis and the global financial crisis.
What an opportunity!
Links of interest:
Because some people are saying that the banks have liquidity i.e. credit to lend; they just don't trust anyone anymore, not even each other. Now there's confidence for you.
The people who loaned money like it was created out of thin air so they could loan it to anyone who asked for it, have now decided they don't trust each other, so the rest of us pay the price?
Whether the bail out, err ... liquidity confidence building, actually does anything, remains to be seen in the reactions from the NZ and Asia openings tomorrow, what with Australia being closed for the (ironic smirk) Labour Day holiday long weekend.
Anyways, a different buzz seems to be happening now, with talk generally turning to funding "nation building" projects rather than credit bail outs, to avert another Great Depression scenario.
Some visionaries have long been talking about the green economy. And now pundits seem to be jumping on the "green collar" jobs bandwagon, and the opportunities for transformation of the polluting sectors of the world economy into low carbon emission economic drivers.
More recently in the Australian industrial heartlands, we've seen union leaders finally get the message.
In the words of noted industrialist, Henry J Kaiser;"Problems are opportunities in work clothes".
And let's face it, right now we're (collectively) facing a couple of doozies! The global warming crisis and the global financial crisis.
What an opportunity!
Links of interest:
- Green Economy and Green collar worker (wiki)
- Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-carbon World (ilo.org)
- Rocky Mountain Institute
- Green Recovery program | Center for American Progress
- $100B Green-Collar Jobs Plan Recommended (Yahoo! News)
- Green Collar Jobs | The Montana Climate Action Project
- Green Economy 2008 US cities rankings (sustainlane.com)
- One Country's Success Story: Building a Green Economy (egovmonitor.com)
- Sustainability within a Generation - Building a Sustainable Economy | David Suzuki Foundation
- ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development in Australia 1992 (environment.gov.au)
- New prospects for nation building (abc.net.au)
Friday, 3 October 2008
US Vice Presidential debate: Biden and Palin
Caught the last 40 minutes of the debate live on SBS TV.
No major booboos to speak of from Sarah Palin, she appeared to acquit herself very well, even getting a few laughs, some smiles and joke or two between her and Joe Biden.
The debate seemed much more dynamic than the first Presidential debate, and Palins' minders certainly prepared her well.
She showed herself to be a quick study, and although she hasn't got the years of exposure to the legislative process that Biden or McCain have to call on, she was able to present the "John McCain maverick ticket" mantra with enough conviction and variety in delivery, that Republicans should be reassured that McCain made an inspired left field choice and that she's capable of doing the job; and Democratics should now be on notice that she's a contender.
Is she ready? You betcha! Even if the ticket doesn't win in November, I think there's every chance Sarah Palin will be in Washington soon enough, should she choose to do so.
No major booboos to speak of from Sarah Palin, she appeared to acquit herself very well, even getting a few laughs, some smiles and joke or two between her and Joe Biden.
The debate seemed much more dynamic than the first Presidential debate, and Palins' minders certainly prepared her well.
She showed herself to be a quick study, and although she hasn't got the years of exposure to the legislative process that Biden or McCain have to call on, she was able to present the "John McCain maverick ticket" mantra with enough conviction and variety in delivery, that Republicans should be reassured that McCain made an inspired left field choice and that she's capable of doing the job; and Democratics should now be on notice that she's a contender.
Is she ready? You betcha! Even if the ticket doesn't win in November, I think there's every chance Sarah Palin will be in Washington soon enough, should she choose to do so.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Green makeoever to create jobs
I don't read the papers every day, not even online, but I reckon this got lost in the mainstream noise generated by the financial gurus running around like chooks with their heads cut off. (Thanks to Kwoff for the heads up.)
Homes 'should get free green makeovers' | NEWS.com.au
By Cathy Alexander
September 21, 2008 03:25pm
Not a bad start Sharon, but a solar hot water system and/or grid connect solar system as well, would be even better.
Homes 'should get free green makeovers' | NEWS.com.au
By Cathy Alexander
September 21, 2008 03:25pm
UNIONS want a "green revolution" to sweep the country's homes, saving more than $400 on annual household electricity bills.
They have called on the Federal Government to pay for a mass retrofitting of homes to slash electricity use.
Homes would be kitted out with insulation, double glazing and smart appliances at a cost to the Government of $5500 apiece. ...
Not a bad start Sharon, but a solar hot water system and/or grid connect solar system as well, would be even better.
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