the F rant

This footy off season has been dominated by all sorts of distractions, from the Spring Racing Carnival, State Election, Swimming World Championships, Drought Talk, Global Warming Talk, International Airshows, Moomba, Grand Prix and all sorts of other things.

For some reason, footy has seemingly snuck up on us – maybe also because the NAB / Wizard / Ansett / Mickey Mouse Cup was dominated by teams of the lowest quality – we have had little coverage of Australia’s greatest sport.

So picture this – Saturday morning, sun shining through the windows – no Fox Footy, sob, choke – but footy is back. A stunning, clear day, about 22 degrees, walking along the bridge from Fed Square to the G thinking, life is wonderful.

The Pies played like they hadn’t kicked the ball in five months, but we pulled out a win in the end. I’d write more but the best I could possibly say is “we’ve got the four points”.

FOOTY: Sport in general

The two reasons people say no to your idea

Variation on a theme: “It can’t be done” – with no logical reason why it can’t be done.

FUTURE: Digital Media, Marketing, Insights and Trends

I’ll put this really simply.

I think Yahoo! Pipes is one of the most revolutionary applications of the internet since the world wide web was invented in 1993.

I’ve had a bash – and failed miserably – but the way I can see this thing developing is just so amazingly powerful. Here’s just some really dumb, topline and basic ideas:

PIPES, whether the Yahoo version or an eventual Apple – widget based, easy to use mashup of RSS feeds version, WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE USE THE INTERNET.

FUTURE: Digital Media, Marketing, Insights and Trends

I haven’t written much about Kevin Rudd or KRudd as I like to call him. He’s done nothing to engender either recognition or rebuke – until now.

KRudd has decided that he wants to take from the Future Fund, the fund being set up by Howard and Costello which will go to providing a secure economic future for generations, and use it for a spending spree. This grab for cash, is nothing more than the first claims the ALP is making on spending our future in the same profligate way theydid during the Hawke and Keating years, when Australia’s Government debt was over $96billion.

Since that time, The Howard-Costello Government has erased Government debt, and is now in the fortunate position to be able to put excess budget surpluses into the Future Fund so that, no matter what happens in the future, we’ve got a secured, solid and conservative income flow to pay for Government services.

However, before the thing is even ready, KRudd wants to take money out – to withdraw from the Future Fund like an irresponsible kid sucking money out of his parent’s ATM to pay for Slurpees and mixed lollies. The problem is, it’s $3billion dollars worth of mixed lollies he wants to spend it on. That’s $150 per person that he wants to spend to big note himself.

Australians should be given an example of financial literacy and wisdom. Instead, KRudd is giving us the first signs that if he were at the helm, we can expect a Government which spends like its going out of style, forfeiting our future. Imagine a future “grey army” under KRudd – underfunded hospitals, underfunded super, underfunded “Future Fund”. It’s an easy return to the Hawke/Keating era of budget deficits and their Whitlam-esque cap in hand begging to overseas bankers for money to pay for ludicrous projects and hare-brained spending sprees.

The point is, the fund capital shouldn’t be used to fund expenditure, it should be used to provide returns – the irony is if KRudd left the Future Fund alone (which the Howard-Costello Government plans on doing into the future), then the profits will pay for huge projects and improvements. The same has been said by very eminent investment experts and economists.

Bad move Krudd, talking about spending our inheritance before you may possibly get it.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer, was trained in typography. As was Tony Martin, Australia’s best comedian / radio host / film maker / film buff.

Who else?

What the hell is it about typography that enhances lateral thinking and creativity? Or is it just a fluke these two very creative people trained in the same field? Or is it that creative people gravitate to typography, not that typography creates creative people?

Could it be the restrictions of shape, design and layout which hones the brain into looking for another solution – one which is creative and attractive but above all, readable? In other words, make it kooky, and you’ve got to make it simple.

Really what all good creativity is about, no?

FUN: Music, Culture and Entertainment, FUTURE: Digital Media, Marketing, Insights and Trends

Driving through the leafy suburban streets of Balwyn a few weeks ago, I was struck by the number of real estate boards outside homes which had a strange little logo on them “In the Balwyn High School Zone”. Balwyn High, a state school, is one of the best performed schools in Australia based on VCE results.

Every year, the results figures come out and Balwyn High ranks as highly (if not higher) as some of the “established” public schools such as Melbourne Grammar, Scotch College, Geelong Grammer and Mount Scopus. To get into those schools, parents must pay extraordinary school fees. However, to be able to attend Balwyn High (a “free” state school), you must simply live in the “Balwyn High zone”, hence why living in the zone is such a unique and attractive selling point for local properties. Tim Harford, the Undercover Economist, has written an excellent piece on the interesting distortions this places on the local real estate market and the resources of the school.

In essence, he highlights how odd the system is whereby parents pay for their children’s education by paying more for real estate in that area rather than paying less for real estate and paying more to the school itself. They are basically paying the same amount for their children’s education as those parents who choose to send their kids to a public school – however the school gets none of the benefits – the extra “fees” go to the previous landowner!

Another argument for the voucher system?

UPDATE: [07/05/07]: I just spoke to someone who made the very good point that it’s far cheaper to send three kids to Balwyn High (with increased housing included) than to pay for three sets of fees to a private school.  There might be a marginal difference in education quality, but a huge difference in outlays.  For two kids, who knows…  For one kid, most likely cheaper to pay fees.

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business

The Australian arm of the fantastic chain of bookstores, Borders, is being put up for sale by its US parent company.

The US company is deep financial troubles and is selling off assets and concentrating on domestic businesses. Let’s hope the excellent service, range and strategy of Borders continues in Australia and it is not split up or dissolved in the event of a botched sale.

FUN: Music, Culture and Entertainment

From NewsCorp and NBC Universal.

So interesting how this new venture, called “Hulu” will go, especially when you consider News Corp and Google are in bed in the search side of things, but battling on the video side of things?

FREEDOM: Economics, Politics and Business, FUTURE: Digital Media, Marketing, Insights and Trends