"That burger has been there a long time - I must have it!"
Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) Should Not Interfer in the Market
Was the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) set up to improve business or just be a nuisance to operations. Its job should be to police the industry and make things run smoothly. However, putting one's nose in when it is not needed is not the best thing to do.
The mining boom is coming to an end as the Chinese economy pulls back from high growth due to wages rising thus demand falling. Companies are looking to move to other Asian countries where labor is cheaper. Australian mining companies are looking to become producers of other things such as technology.
With this move comes threats from ASIC for the miners to keep their noses clean. Apparently they must inform shareholders before they buy tech companies. We have not reached a point yet where shareholders manage companies. Surely, it is up to the CEO and the board to set future company developments and intentions.
ASIC is making accusations that mining companies are "cooking the books" while buying up tech companies. It has said that miners must not use backdoor listing to hide purchases. ASIC is watching Minerals Corporation Limited, InterMet, Nemex, MacroEnergy and Latin Gold.
Surely, with ASIC already making its claims open, shareholders already know what is going on - normal business behavior. Changing business models is not an area ASIC should be watching. This is nothing to do with ASIC. It should stick to asset valuation and financial reporting. It is ridiculous to monitor how capital will be raised. Interfering in the market just distorts it.
Economics by Ty Buchanan
Video Animal
"Hi. Welcome to our first VideoCast. This could be a shock for you, but...."
Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan
New Catfish Species in Australia
Carfish are fairly mundane creatures. If you are fishing and you hook one thinking it is a big pike you are annoyed when you drag it in, and "drag" it the defining word. They are usually a dead weight on the line.
On the other hand if you are a biologist all animals are of interest. A combined US, Australia team has discovered a new catfish species in North Queensland. It has a tail like an eel, not the usual fish-like tail. Apparently, people knew of its existence for many years and just assumed it was like any other catfish.
Tandanus tropicanus is cylindrical in body shape. It has a large head and tiny eyes. DNA tests showed that the fish is a distinct species. Overall, its body configuration is different from other catfish.
Unlike many catfish it is good to eat. Fishermen have been catching it for many years for food not knowing how unique it was. Despite the accumulation of human knowledge about the world there is a lot we still do not know about nature.
Biology by Ty Buchanan
The Aboriginal "Race" is in Danger
Aboriginals have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years, perhaps 60,000 years. If they were the first to leave Africa this could be pushed back to 80,000. Because they are so different from Asians this could be the case. A skull found in South America is clearly aboriginal - How did it get there?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders number about half a million of Australia's 23 million. Numbering them is difficult as many, like the American black population, have white people in their ancestry.
There is a strange state of affairs with more than a quarter of the overall population in Australia being born overseas. This has meant an important inter-cultural mix. However, the Aboriginal culture is dying out. Few young people speak native tongues in depth. Older people are not able to pass on languages completely: there are thousands of Aboriginal dialects across the country. Religious rituals in particular are disappearing.
Aboriginal art is very strong and many earn income from this. It is in demand not only in Australia but worldwide. Indeed, Aboriginals tried to patent the "dot" in their painting. The claim was turned down which left fake paintings by white people as a problem in the market.
Absorption into the white population has been the country's main aim for centuries. There are a few Aboriginals who stubbornly stay out of this idea. They are losing as time passes. City Aboriginals know nothing about traditional Aboriginal life. They would die of starvation if left in the outback. Their forebears knew how to survive.
Anthropology by Ty Buchanan
Menstruation is Not Happening at a Younger Age
Just when a girl has her first period is genetically based. It is determine by more that 100 parts of the the human genome. It is not affected by more good food, etc., as was once believed. Furthermore, good food intake is not making girls menstruate earlier.
Going into adulthood sooner is a danger to health. The chances of getting type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer is increased. These findings come from an international study carried out in 166 institutions.
It seems that diseases are usually limited to a few parts of the genome, while menstruation involves a surprisingly large number. It is whole-body function. Indeed, one's physical and social surroundings could also play a part in triggering genes.
Yes, a better diet has lowered the onset of menstruation from 17 years of age in the 1800s to 12.5 years in the 1960s. Since that time, however, it has remained at that point. It must be noted that many diseases that delayed the onset of periods have been significantly reduced. Many people got seriously ill from infections in times past.
Health by Ty Buchanan
Flying Cat
"Wait, I've forgotten something - PARACHUUUUUUUUTE!"
Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan
Wearable Technology Will Go the Way Of 3D and 4K Televisions
Will people buy wearable technology? Looking back on computers, purchases were out of curiosity and it eventually became a "must have" when games began to be cracked. Some even enjoyed the long tedious entering of code to produce a "useful" program that was painfully slow when you ran it. It took three whole days to do a spell check on a five page paper.
Then there was the verbal war everywhere with the majority advising to buy a Mac when universities only used Microsoft PCs. If you wanted to further your education a Mac was useless. I believe this state of affairs is split now but most colleges still favor Microsoft.
The iPad is still not a device one uses to improve knowledge, though some still soldier on in the fruity Apple world. There isn't much doubt that an Apple product is a prestige item. All Apple devices are grossly overpriced and owners know the ordinary Joe will never afford one.
In regard to wearables they are just curiosities at the moment, much like 3D and 4K televisions. Billions were wasted on investment in these "dead ends". Watches are so old fashioned. Even before mobile phones people were leaving them at home because there were clocks everywhere. Like cuff links they have gone to the dogs. It would be different if power and battery life was comparable to mobile phones. Unfortunately, it isn't.
Wearables will remain locked to the health and fitness world. This is where a low power, short battery life product fits in with what the user wants. Google glass will eventually fade away as non-users feel threatened by them. Eventually, someone is going to get a black eye for filming without another's consent.
Another issue with wearables is the mistaken belief by manufacturers that human behavior is predictable and consistent. People are notoriously inconsistent, going off at a whim on the spur of the moment. A meeting could start with the dust mite and end up on Mars. All conversations are like this.
Technology by Ty Buchanan
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