That Abominal Thing Called 'The Recession'

So as most people within the Western world, we are in a market-wealth crisis, otherwise known as the recession. For the rich people it means a possible bad mark on their records, a lower performance pay out and a good dose of despise. For the lower-rich it means their identity is messed with as they have to pucker up their life style, adapt to a [s]lower income and perhaps deal with a bit more despise than those above them due to their closer relations with those below them. For middle class and down it means possible unemployment, hard times, and hopefully general, mutual sympathy between ourselves. For the poor, destitute, homeless, bums and the like (can never think of a nice PC word for this class) it's just life as normal, and perhaps suffer a bit more ignorance as those above them become more concerned with their own families, lifestyles and financial issues.

I'd like to draw a point or two out of this. Firstly, I think that if we want to move through this time easier we, particularly the middle-class down patrons, have to resist the urge to think for ourselves and look for more ways to support each other. As the larger portion of society I believe we have the potential to pull through this pretty well if we look after each other rather than just 'numero uno.' I can't do much about the powers that be and what they decide to do e.g. Job Summits. But I can look out for those around me and be aware of not just their financial circumstances, but them as people. Comradery, I'd like to think, will be one of the winning elements of the day.

And another slightly different point. The government should subsidize comedian shows and/or comedy events. For example, a subsidy for those in financial hardship so that they are able to go to the likes of Billy Connolly. It's easy enough to get worn down in life and end up in the dumps. It's much harder to keep an optimistic attitude and maintain a higher morale in seemingly desperate situations. I think that spending the night out and having a good laugh can do worlds of wonders for people and their morale. While it wouldn't improve financial situations, I would argue that it would help improve a persons well-being as well as their relationships with others.

So in one sentence comradery, optimism, high morale and comedy.

Cheers

Jimmy

Auckland

So a lot of stuff has been pissing me off the last while. High among the list has been drivers. As a comparative to the prejudicially (if that's a word) ill thought of racism, I am becoming more and more car-cist. Car-cist in the sense that when I see a model and make of a car I automatically harbour disdain towards it - regardless of the driver of whom I can only know through their driving. I'm sure everyone does it. Take for example the Holden Commodore, particularly the older models. When I see one of those I just know it's the sort of car that is going to put their foot down and cruise wherever it wants, usually pissing everyone off. It's like they decide to buy the car, hop in it, put their foot down, and magically their dick grows 12 inches. I just feel like ramming the car off the road and pulling them back to earth - if you race everywhere doing 80km/h in busy Auckland then you are going to hurt people. You won't attract more chicks, you aren't cooler, anyone in any car can put their foot down and go faster, and no, you don't have a bigger dick!

It's not just the endangerment either. How many people feel frustrated when they are sitting on the North Western Motorway in the long queue leading onto the Southern Motorway (which seemingly idiotically the council only allocates a single lane for the lead on to the Southern but two lanes to the hardly used East Port) and some guy cruises up the East Port or Nelson St lanes and cuts into the Southern lead on way up the front. They selfishly and unjustifiably cut the queue, making the people with a conscience who have been waiting, wait longer. It is those sorts of people I just want to ram off the road and introduce them to my ever building frustrations of the wait time in the single lane, as well as the increased frustration with watching them cut lines all the time!

Sadly as more than 50% of the world apparently live in cities Auckland drivers perhaps represent a larger portion of the world than we think they do in NZ. I won't ever ram or hurt someone driving to suit only themselves, but I'm sure someone, somewhere, will.

Sorry bout the use of the word Dick, but couldn't think of another word to use. And honestly, I'm just being honest with what I'm thinking.

My groans.

Jimmy.

Bits and Pieces of Interest #2

1/ I've recently been watching comedian 'Jon Reep' on YouTube. He's funny and pretty clean about his jokes. Another guy has been 'Jeremy Hotz' who has an interesting way of being funny. If anyone hasn't seen 'Pablo Francisco' then check him out too, he does a wicked 'movie preview guy' impersonation.

2/ So I eat alot of kiwifruit - happily without the side affects that more 'older' people get. It has recently been announced a 'super fruit.'

"ZESPRI™ Kiwifruit is full of nutrients, with high levels of vitamins C and E, anti-oxidants and fibre. It is considered to be one of the new 'superfruits' because of its added benefits to the body over and above basic nutrition."

Read the rest of the article here.

3/ I'm thinking about changing to KiwiBank, and apparently this guy needs a funny bone transplant.

4/ Here is a bunch of info on driving over the next week. Includes stats and other stuff like on average 14 people die in car crashes over the next week.

5/ For all those spiritually experiential driven people there is a peace Labrynth setup in Latimer Square in Christchurch for the next wee while.

6/ Some top spots for road trips.

/7 and finally, Turitea wants a new windfarm. She is a pretty on-to-it lady and so far I respect her.

The Recession...

So the recession continues for NZ. BNZ has just announced that they are closing their branch in Dunedin, leaving some more people unemployed. While some can shift to another branch, not all will find jobs. This is their third closure of a branch this year in the south island. I hope this isn't indicative of other banks as well.
Along with this tertiary providers are gearing up with packages to assist the recently unemployed, encouraging them to retrain. Within the same article I read this:

"According to BERL research commissioned by ITP New Zealand, there will be 46,500 to 76,400 more people unemployed or out of the labour force by March 2011. Unemployment will peak in March 2010 and people with lower skills are likely to make up 75% of the increase."

Which sorta came as a surprise to me, I was under the impression we were leveling out. Seeing this makes me hope the government is making plans to lower these stats. Sorta sad really, cause what choice do we have but to ride out this recession brought on by a few too many greedy people.

Telecom

It's not often I think of Telecom with good thoughts. The money hungry giant's internet is over priced, cellphones are nothing great, service unreliable and their help desk has operators that are hard to understand. Not a gleaming example of a company putting the customers first. But I was happy to read this article where they have donated just over 3 tonnes of food to the Salvation Army's food bank! This is great as it comes at a time where the Sallies were struggling to find food for the 'underpriveleged' people. Kudos for that one Telecom!

NZ Education Report

I was interested to see that the amount of people studying at level 4 and above has increased over the last year. I had heard that this was a trend in recessions, people get laid off so why not do a bit of study for either fun or re-training. 51% of NZers apparently have a tertiary qualification, but I was surprised that only 18% hold Bachelors or higher qualification!

Since NZ doesn't have alot of natural resources to trade with, nor alot of land to build lots of cities and sweat-shops to keep up with larger economies, perhaps NZ could become one big agricultural think tank. Where if you want to get educated in the world, you come to NZ! But that's about a million years away, and am sure there are much better plans out there.

Read the Article Here.

Thomas Spurgeon

Hey I just found this while reading some stuff on Wikipedia. Thomas Spurgeon, the son of the famous Charles Spurgeon, was a pastor/preacher at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. Talk about a small world.

Philip

A New Government

Well the election results are in and National are the new governing party.  I don't mind old John Keys, but I'm not sure about Bill English.  I have to say I'm happy with the first article I read this morning over Keys' plans to build a united broad based coalition.  He only needs Act to take parliament, but he has chosen to talk with Peter Dunne from United Future and the Maori Party and suggested they that have a role in the new government.  I think it would be cool to have someone like Pita Sharples in cabinet.  By this I am happy.
  
Also it seems that Winston Peters (New Zealand First) is no longer in parliament! I wonder how this come-back-kid will come-back. [Read Article Here].  He lost his electorate (Tauranga) to the young Simon Bridges.

I hope that everyone will support the new government, and that the new government will serve us well.

Stay Gold

Philip