WAKE UP TASMANIA! – WE’RE BEING HAD, YET AGAIN!

Corruption: The Forestry Compensation Rort article courtesy of themercury.com.au

SINCE WHEN do we (the Australian Taxpayers) ‘compensate’ CONTRACTORS of ANY sort? - The WHOLE point of having ‘Contractors‘ instead of ‘Employees’ in the first place, is so that WE (the Taxpayers) DON’T have to compensate them when circumstances beyond OUR control change, isn’t it? And, to assist them to deal with that uncertainty, WE (the Taxpayers via the ATO) generously allow ‘Contractors’ to claim income & work-related expenses that US meer ‘employees’ can only dream about, against their Tax Debts – In other words, they’re ALREADY adequately compensated by US (the Taxpayers) because of those generous Tax Breaks – So… WHY are WE (the Taxpayers) now effectively DOUBLING the COMPENSATION paid to these so-called ‘Contractors’!!!?

The Simple Answer is that…

It’s a blatant $400 Million Bribe - a  Political Pay-Off for Labour’s Tasmanian ‘marginal seats‘ that are critical if the ALP is to win the next Federal Election; and, it’s incredibly Corrupt!

So, What are we compensating Forest ‘Contractors’ for again – I’ve forgotten!? photo taken from: tasmaniantimes.com.au

SINCE WHEN  do we trust the Tasmanian Government to hand out $400 Million to anyone, after it absolutely RORTED the first $43 Million of the current Forestry ‘compensation deal’ a few months go; after Lara Giddings rather unconscionably & suspiciously refused to sign up Tasmania to Gonski Educational Reform Package only because the Federal Government wouldn’t give her control over how the funds would be allocated and, WHY would WE (the Taxpayers) trust it to do ‘the right thing’ after the unbelievable litany of Nepotism & Corruption for which this State is particularly renowned?

And,  although it is begrudgingly & lamentably acknowledged that Tasmania‘s Legislative Council has always had the power to accept or reject proposed legislation sent to it by the Lower House without any community consultation first,  SINCE WHEN did it also get the power to AMEND legislation sent to it by OUR supposedly ‘honourable’ representatives in the Tasmanian (Lower) House of Representatives on OUR behalf?

Hate Not Welcome Anywhere (Photo credit: Taekwonweirdo)

Where there is smoke there is fire! Where a wrist has been slashed and not properly tended, more slicing most likely will occur.
I get it. I really do! Someone needs to look after the state of the state of things. A regressive female with suicidal tendencies and in a mother/daughter relationship akin to Norman Bates and his Mom; is a pile of rising white bread that is in need of cooling.
Bette Davis once said, ‘a little paranoia never hurt anybody!’
So true! My previous place of employment categorized me as, threatening and often times unstable. Not the US Government though. They take a lickin’ and keep in tickin’. No pun intended.
What the worse that could happen? I am under constant supervision and I don’t even know it. When others are offering to assist me in my attempts at volunteering to teach blind kids how to tie a sailor’s knot; they are in fact, peer spies.
Slowly but surely a fog arises from my Ambien not so Full of Grace, Land, and I can see forever. I can see that my derelict ways, my vague attempts at stepping outside of the Stepford box, are all in vain. Best if I just went back to being a heterosexual without a cause!

land of the lost…directions not included

Recently, a friend of mine has let me know that she will be volunteering for your organization. Though, I think she is a wonderful young lady. She does have some severe mental impairments that I believe volunteering such a distance away and not taking her medications, wish she will not because she doesn’t want to get turned down for ______, she surely will at some point have some sort of bad break in her depression.

My concern seems out there. And, it doesn’t seem like a friend would write you about this. However, in light of the recent events in Connecticut I have some valid concerns over her state of mind under stress.
I’m not sure if this email will reach the correct person. I am hoping that it does.

Thank You

Good Morning,

Volunteer NH does manage the ____ State grants and we have a very good relationship with the staff who interview and select members to participate. I will direct your concern to the appropriate team. With a bit more information I can do so. Please give me a call or email with more information including your friends name and the program that she is going to be serving. And, as always, there will be a close monitor for anyone accepted that may have mental health issues.
Very best,

P.S. Disaster Assistance Agent?  Me?  WTF?  Why is it the American People keep getting shafted with fancy entitlements such as the above?  All I’m doing is learning how to mulch and rake leaves!

Forever yours-

Gracie Willams, the Ambien Grace

A few months ago, Alexis Rudd sent my kids some of her science books from her childhood. They have greatly enjoyed the books. My wife and I, being 30-somethings, greatly enjoyed finding a 1991 Consumer Information Catalog produced by US General Services Administration.

A catalog of free and low-cost federal publications of consumer interest

It is a spectacular snapshot of what US Federal Government thought “consumer interest” was in the Autumn of 1991.

Ah, yes, the microwave revolution. Heady, delicious times.

Is it still a “fad” diet if we were already worrying about it 20+ years ago.

Oh dear. Always a bit embarrassing when the US Federal Government sounds like your grandfather. Also, very little of the description says “good news”. I think Futurama stole this line.

Commentators have argued that the Canadian Criminal Code already contains provisions that could be used to address cyberbullying.  For instance, section 372(3), which deals with harassment, provides that: “Every one who, without lawful excuse and with intent to harass any person, makes or causes to be made repeated telephone calls to that person is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.”

The Canadian government also recently dropped lawful access from its nation cybersecurity strategy.  Canada’s 2010 Cyber-security strategy had expressed an intent to bring forward lawful access legislation with a commitment to introduce a bill requiring Internet service providers to “maintain intercept capable systems, so that law enforcement agencies can execute judicially authorized interceptions and “to provide police with basic customer identification data, as this information is essential to combating online crimes that occur in real time, such as child sexual abuse.”

Reference to the above lawful access were removed from its more recent 2010-2015 Cybersecurity Action Plan Strategy.  As one authoritative commentator pointed out “given that the document originates with Public Safety – the most ardent supporter of lawful access within the government – the removal of surveillance language provides a strong signal that it is not part of the legislative plan for the foreseeable future.”

Related articles

• Blurring the Line Between Real and Virtual: New Anti-Cyberbullying Legislation for Nova Scotia (dataprivacyandsecuritylaw.com)
• Update: 2010-15 Action Plan for Canada’s Cybersecurity Strategy (dataprivacyandsecuritylaw.com)
• Parliament of Canada Passes New Counter-Terrorism Legislation (dataprivacyandsecuritylaw.com)
• Could Privacy Protection Bills Hinder Law Enforcement? (networkworld.com)

National emblem of the People’s Republic of China (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

April 26, 2013: A recent worldwide survey of Internet based hacking attacks discovered that about a fifth of them are directed at stealing data. That’s espionage and over 90 percent of these attacks are from China. Most of the criminal Internet activity is still all about making money (via spam or outright theft).

What is interesting about the data stealing activity is that more and more of it is counter-intelligence (attacking enemy intelligence collecting) work. For example, more and more Chinese hacking is an effort to find out how Western media is finding out details of corruption inside China. Western media has published some very embarrassing data about corruption by the families of senior Chinese leaders. Chinese hackers are trying to find out who the sources in China are, so they can be silenced. The Chinese are also trying to find information about informants working for Western intelligence agencies.

While military organizations are usually very careful about guarding the identities of these informants, if you can grab enough lower-level communications within military intelligence agencies you can probably figure out who the sources within China are. The Chinese also use these techniques to discover key people in Western corporations who are developing new products or markets for existing products. Chinese firms have a big advantage knowing this sort of thing. It’s all about information and who has it. If you know what the enemy knows and they don’t know what you are all about you have a major advantage in war and peace.

Read more:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20130426.aspx

http://bit.ly/183vp8Q

Speaking when the Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari-led Committee on reconciliation, healing and Security set up by the Northern governors to find out the causes of insecurity in the region, submitted its final report, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu also asked the Federal Government to explain what it was doing with the oil subsidy money against the backdrop that there were no marked improvements at the petrol stations.

“Where is the subsidy money going into; we have been told that people collected money and go free? Today there is more thievery in the oil sector. If you catch one thief and you do not punish him, others will think that if they do the same thing, they will go scotfree,” he said.

Aliyu further decried the level of insecurity in the North, pointing out that the economy of the area had been crippled following incessant killings and wanton destruction of property in the zone and the problem was increasing because, “we have taken many things for granted.”

Aliyu then appealed to members of the Boko Haram sect to take the advantage of the Federal Government’s readiness for dialogue by accepting the peace initiative in the interest of the zone.

He said: “Members of the insurgent group are called upon for immediate ceasefire, accept the offer made by the federal government and come forward for dialogue and eventual submission of arms.”

He also hailed the committee members for showing the courage to visit Borno and Yobe states, as part of its fact-finding efforts. He added: “It was after your committee visited that other groups were emboldened to go.” The governor who warned that governors as Chief Security Officers of their respective states must ensure that there was peace to enable them stay with the people after they must have served their various terms in office, assured the team that the 19 Northern governors as chief security officers of their states, “would look at your report, dissect it and implement your recommendations.”

The problem with the North

Meanwhile, the Northern States Governors’ Forum Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security, NSCRHS, in its report submitted to the governors yesterday identified poverty, economic inequality, narrowing opportunities;

http://upload.wikimedia.org

READ MORE HERE:           http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/26/tech/innovation/security-cameras-boston-bombings/index.html?hpt=us_c1

Related articles

• The pros and cons of surveillance cameras (wyff4.com)
• Boston Search Shines Spotlight On Surveillance Cameras (npr.org)
• SciTechTalk: Surveillance in Boston bombing raises issues (upi.com)
• Big Op-Ed: Shifting Opinions On Surveillance Cameras (npr.org)

One client solicited sound and prudent legal advise that come with a warning – “whatever you do , don’t do try to fight this out or you will lose”. The client proceeded to consult attorneys until he found one that wanted to fight but also wanted to cut corners. Long story short, they lost, nobody recovered costs or fees, the “bad guys” got away and it took two years and permanently split a family.

EXAMPLES: (BASED ON TRUE STORIES – CHECK THE TRANSCRIPTS & DOCUMENTS)

During one particular nasty exchange an opposing counsel demanded to know from the plaintiff “When was the last time the defendant COMMITTED SUICIDE?” The look on the defendant’s face, sitting at the desk… priceless! The look on the judge’s face… pricey!

One well respected attorney cryptically but accurately advised a leading Los Angeles area city’s staff that a large federal grant would need to be returned if matters were not addressed during recent negotiations. The response? We have researched the matter and are confidant the funds were not misappropriated. The U.S. government   demanded the money be paid back! They already reduced the disbursement for this fiscal year by the amount owed. They may (or maybe not) consider themselves lucky that there was no audit.

A favorite construction firm of a certain local city council demanded payment for a disputed project and their plaintiff attorneys refused to consider that they may have no standing plus very, very little chance to collect, so they continued to fight (with more legal fees) – but the defendant’s attorney was proven right again – bankruptcy is such a harsh mistress.

We will save the rest for another time. So watch what you say… because somebody may be listening.

As part of the United States President’s Feed the Future Initiative in Ethiopia, the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the Camel Milk Value Chain Development project in Fafan Village, Somali Region. 

Thursday, 25 April 2013  NewBusinessEthiopia.com

The project launched today (April 25, 2013) is expected to improve the production and market competitiveness of camel milk products in the Somali Region to improve incomes and nutrition for up to 50,000 targeted households in the Siti (Shinile) and Fafan (Jijiga) zones.

Speaking at the project launch event, His Excellency Abdifatah Mohamud Hassan, Somali Regional State Vice President, said, “The Camel Milk Value Chain Development project is an innovative project that addresses cultural wealth of the pastoralists and contributes to the Ethiopia Agricultural Growth and Transformation Plan.”

The project, implemented by Aged and Children Pastoralists Association, will improve the entire value chain of camel milk production, from the camels until the arrival at markets.  To increase camel productivity, the project will focus on breed development, improved animal feed and fodder, and animal health service delivery.

The project will give special focus to building the capacity of community animal health workers to diagnose and treat camel diseases.  For improving production, it will train producers and milk collectors on how to improve milk quality and cleanliness while working with the Somali Regional government to set appropriate quality assurance standards for camel milk.

In Addition, to strengthen market access, the project will link the primary neighboring milk markets with the milk producer and supplier networks, hygiene control and food safety standards, and transportation systems.

“Ethiopia has a good chance of becoming a leader in promoting camel production as a key to pastoralist livelihood security and development,” said USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Dennis Weller. “With the climate uncertainty that we have seen in the Somali Region, camels are the animal of the future and I look forward to seeing the successes of this project.”

Through the improved access to technical expertise and practices, the project will stimulate increased milk productivity and competitiveness in the milk market, which will in turn improve smallholder productivity, food security and incomes

Related articles

• Got (Camel) Milk? High in Vitamin C and No Lactose Intolerance (medicaldaily.com)
• USAID Launches Project to Support Wheat Processing (africapotashblog.wordpress.com)
• Building a Better Somali Region (ipsnews.net)
• The unseen treasure! Camel milk in Pakistan (camel4all.wordpress.com)
• Ethiopia’s Quest for Deeper Water (africapotashblog.wordpress.com)

079 Capitol Hill United States Congress 1993 (Photo credit: David Holt London)

If you receive a payment from your account with me it is drawn on ” Jack A. Bass In Trust for  (  Your Name Here).

Few of us are concerned that the bank with which we have  an account will itself go bankrupt or that ( like Cyprus ) – the accounts will be seized or reduced by payment to the government to cover their own cupidity and stupidity.

You must be vigilant or rely on an intermediary who will not place your assets at risk . What bank can be relied upon when JPMorgan – thought to have escaped the worst of the 2008 Wall Street Meltdown takes a $ 6 Billion Dollar hit in the trading account reputed to be low risk investments?

The idea that the U.S. government will bailout banks ” to big to fail” is a fallacy. The U.S. voter won’t tolerate another giveaway to Wall Street and Congress is seeking( not successfully ) to define and curtail bank gambling.

Every aspect of bank management and trading is awash in risk .Secrecy is the dry rot at the heart of the trust issue and bank statements are simply too opaque to provide guidance for your safety. This si despite an array of regulators and inspectors and SEC requirements for filing.

For small investors – defined as less than a million dollars cash – you can place your money in a number of banks to try and avoid the calamity of all your financial eggs in one basket. For investors with more assets to manage you must look to gold and oil investments to offset cash loss risk at banks that fail. ( This is  a good time to remind readers to follow the advice of The Gold Investor’s Handbook available form Amazon.Com

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• Ellen Brown ~ It Can Happen Here: The Bank Confiscation Scheme For US And UK Depositors (shiftfrequency.com)