Casual Ravings

Australia Is Going To Lose To Switzerland

If it hasn’t already.

Chris Wilkins, living in Zug, Switzerland sheds some light on the enigma that is Swiss corporate tax and why the Australian Treasurer’s latest tax hike on the mining industry means the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and Australians will ultimately lose out to a tough tax competitor.

Medieval Technology, Medieval Mind

NZ ripped off against Slovakia is good for Football.

Apparently all the top officials in FIFA are scared silly that the introduction of video referees will somehow destroy the game by “diluting the emotion of the game.” This is why they refused to bring in modern technology to the World Cup, which was brought to a head with Thierry Henry’s handball-goal.

All this discussion needed to get going again was a clear cut example of yet another team getting ripped off and not getting the results they deserve. Which is exactly what happened to New Zealand today against Slovakia.

Kim Jong Il says “Phew”

I am certain that Kim Jong Il, illustrious leader of North Korea is eternally thankful to the crass stupidity of the Israeli Defence Force. Up until 24 hours ago, North Korea was in the world spotlight for their insane act of sinking the Cheonan, the South Korean frigate. The UN was jumping up and down about it, Hilary Clinton was flying around the world from one summit to the next; and (more) sanctions were being imposed. Then “poof”. It disappeared.

What’s The Beef With Iran?

For years the USA has had a serious problem with Iran. Well, for the last fifty. Since enormous sums of oil were nationalised from BP and put in the hands of the people who lived there.

And then it really started. Mossadegh, who did the nationalising, was out because of a CIA coup. Then 30 years of a corrupt dictator pissed off the Iranians and had him thrown out. Unfortunately an excitable man replaced him.

The Difference 20 Seats Can Make

There is something strange happening in the UK. Politicians are using words like “cooperation” and “compromise” and exotic phrases like “we want to work together”.

Compare this with the usual mud-slinging that goes on in the House of Commons, where barely-veiled insults are order of the day, where not giving a hoot about what the other politicians want is absolutely modus operandi.

David Cameron – The Man Who Would Be King

Poor David Cameron. Saying he would be prepared to form an “big, open and comprehensive” coalition with the Liberal Democrats. I’m sure the entire speech stuck in his throat.

The UK Election Debates

And What is Wrong With the UK.

Well, quite a bit actually. And this was borne out of the debates that have just finished for the UK elections.

There are two ways to look at this debate. The first is to listen to what they are all saying and then carefully analyse it all, and see who you think will make the best UK Prime Minister.

Fraxion Payments Publishes First Complete Novel

Opportunities for new authors huge.

Only a few days ago I finished putting my entire novel, Handar, all 108,000 words of it, up on the internet at www.battleaxebooks.com/handar using the Fraxion Payments locking mechanism. It’s a fantasy novel and a ripping story of a running battle between orcs and humans. If you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll like it.

C’mon Clegg – Hung Parliaments are Great

Hung Parliaments work great in Switzerland. And, in fact, the constitutuion demands the Swiss Parliament is perpetually hung.

Recently in the media following the UK election there has been much talk about how the Liberal Democrats might spoil the party for the Tories and Labour. Within the commentary is the suggestion that the Lib Dems are going to threaten the very foundation of Westminster Democracy by forcing a government to govern with less than 50 per cent of the seats within Parliament. How dare they?

No News is Bad News for Moshtarak

With little or no news about Operation Moshtarak it can only mean the Taliban are winning.

Operation Moshtarak got under way two months ago with much fanfare and cable news coverage.

Pictures of jets and helicopters taking off, and columns of tanks moving out were beamed around the world. Politicians in the UK and USA struggled for elbow room to get in front of TV cameras, each one proclaiming what a great thing this operation was and how Johnny Taliban was going to be given whatfor.