The Egg Seller

How much an egg??

This morning I read a post by my sister Lurline Cocivera:

It included this parable:

'My father used to buy simple goods from poor people at high prices, even though he did not need them. Sometimes he even used to pay extra for them. I got concerned by this act and asked him why does he do so? Then my father replied, "It is a charity wrapped with dignity, my child”

And I thought, I should do that more often.

A third, a third, and a third

Woman in Gold

I was infuriated by a fellow traveller on Australia Day. For the opinion and probably because it seemed to me this person was a teacher - polluting our young peoples minds...

It was about the "invasion" day crap - I think about the fact that a majority of the arrivals on January 26th 1788 - most were white slaves - we call them convicts - incarcerated for "crimes" that today wouldn't even attract an "on the spot" fine... And I wonder if we should have a national apology to them?

But the particular thing that annoyed me was a sated preference to the original land title system in Australia before Cook's arrival to colonise Australia - common wealth - what's mine is yours.

I asked, seriously, would they mind if I and 20 others can to live with them without paying our way - "Oh you are changing the argument " they said...

Here is how James Rickards talks about what it takes to preserve wealth over centuries

The frequent reply is "a third, a third, and a third."

"Yet as one goes abroad, there is an even older kind of money, true dynastic wealth that has existed in some families for 300 years or longer. This type of wealth has survived not only business cycles but also war, invasion, the collapse of empires, revolution, and natural disaster. In order for family wealth to persist through so many centuries and through such adversity, something more is needed than ordinary investment skill. This rare kind of success in wealth preservation requires a longer view, infused with a sense of history and a keen appreciation for worst-case scenarios that too frequently become real.

When one inquires of family members and representatives as to what it takes to preserve wealth over centuries and not just cycles, the frequent reply is "a third, a third, and a third." This is shorthand for dividing one's wealth into one-third land, one-third gold, and one-third fine art. Obviously some liquidity is needed for day-to-day expenses and some room can be made for a speculative portfolio, but the basic idea that land, gold, and art outlast and outperform riskier assets such as stocks, bonds, and cash seems sound when viewed from the perspective of centuries and not just years or decades."

What about the Nazi's their shrill reply??
When in Vienna recently we were exposed to the Gold Lady - the repatriation of a painting to the heirs of a family who lost their wealth in the Second World War - I think someone paid $140 million to that heir for the painting - and wealth was restored!

Speak up or we will end up in a socialist system - what is the saying "The worst thing about Capitalism is that is was named by a socialist - Karl Marx.

Enough already

The Popular Australian National Anthem

It's time [ and I am old enough ] to say - enough is enough - about stuff that is rammed down our throats by the politically correct police.

What am I talking about?? In a group of 10 fellow proud Aussies on Australia Day a mixture of Italian and Croation immigrants, a Yorshire couple and me, a 5th generation West Australian, I voiced the opinion that I hoped that the movement to make Invasion Day the replacement for Australia Day wouldn't catch on.

I was shouted down, and kneed by "she who knows better" to keep quiet, and told that even though we have an elected Government, Democracy is a flawed system and it doesn't matter if most people don't want something, if a loud enough group shouts loud enough we should accept there views - does this sound like Same Sex Marriage advocates [?] we should make sure nobody has any grievance... and I am sure these views will be feed to young minds in school... like Safe Schools Anti Bully Nonsense... until, our weak kneed politicians, to shut up the shouting, will give in, have a National conversation, and then claim credit for a "progressive" point of view and change what ails the "down trodden"

It reminds me of the saying "Life was meant to be fair!" so get used to it.

Forever, we have had the GOLDEN RULES - the persona with the gold makes the RULES [ even I have had to change that from the man to the person ]

I used to think Ayn Rand's writing were science fiction but they are really were accurate predictions of social change - where was that country they went to to start again??

Elton John to retire

Elton john to retire??

Nothing too radical about that but did you [ certainly I did ] think his hard living, drugs and other vices... would have claimed him much younger??

Neil Diamond has succumbed to ill health but Paul McCartney was amazing in concert when I went to see him in December.

All that advice about hard living seems to have been wrong!! Hell what keeps Keith Richards going??

Nothing too radical about that but did you [ certainly I did ] think his hard living, drugs and other vices... would have claimed him much younger??

Neil Diamond has succumbed to ill health but Paul McCartney was amazing in concert when I went to see him in December.

All that advice about hard living seems to have been wrong!! Hell what keeps Keith Richards going??

Not ready yet for God's waiting room

Perfect Waves at Margaret River

Mmmm do you like birthdays?? Today I am 66... and when I was younger and until my twenties people in their 60's died of over work and old age - usually some horrible illness or a really bad flu got them. Here I am fit - 10 kms a day, healthy - I don't have a "doctor" no need apart from annual skin cancer removals [ beach in the sun as a kid ] and whilst wealthy is a stretch we are planning a Mediterranean cruise this year based on where it goes not how much it costs. So what gets people who live longer is that the body out lasts the mind... shit I hope that isn't me.

So, today is just another notch on the belt and I am still planning my next 100 ninety day projects [ that's 25 years for you non mathies ]

Grace and Frankie have a phone that only rings to announce an funeral - haven't got there yet but maybe I should consider prepaying my cremation expenses - they say costs of dying always go up but apparently the internet has ignited a price war in the UK Mmmm just another thing to have to decide about.

Terry and Elizabeth Parsons are going to put my ashes in their caravan and them spread them [ my ashes ] into the sea at Margaret River...

I just checked and I am still breathing..

Thanks for all the birthday wishes... I will be here for 67th!

Why didn't I think of that!

That's a thought!

Many random thoughts from the last month:

The new business model for knowledge workers - give away ideas charge for implementation!

"People get paid when they build a sophisticated product [ Facebook?] and then create a services ecosystem"

Exit interview " I think you would be happier working elsewhere"

and Life advice:

"The is nothing to be gained by being boring, plain and beige, and trying to please everyone"

Are you guilty of streaming infidelity

Jane Fond ageing well?!

Jane Fonda makes me feel WOW !!

And after binge watching of Grace and Franki I am all in favour of "work" if she has had some!

So what did I want to say about this Netflix special... after episode 1 of series 4 or 5 Joanne commented there can't be enough for another 11 episodes... but was she wrong.

I think we have touched on gay marriage, sisters estranged, cancer, husbands dying, orangutans escaping, runny eggs, loneliness, sex reveal baby showers, knee surgery, younger men as lovers, mixed race adoption, hippies in Arizona, drunk driving of mobility scooters, tiny houses [ can we do this in my car - it has more room ] weird names Coyote in preference to a Normal name, the spirit world, dementia, elderly gay couple counselling, open gay marriages, and we still have a few episodes to fo - and the new social evil of binge watching without your watching partner [ what's the name for that - yes that's it - streaming infidelity - oh Joanne was so wrong...

What is your favourite new social challenge?

Concentrate on what you are good at..

Paddle where I point!

Concentrate on what you are good at... ignore your weaknesses!

This morning I was listening to my daily podcast and I was fired up by the MFCEO talk... yes it does mean that!

It was about "Are you a hate to lose or a love to win!" type of person.

The story to reinforce the point was a down the rapids white water raft adventure... the group people thought the water was too rough - there had been a few days of drenching rain. So, it was decided that thry would wait until another day all except one "Old " guy who took control... here was his instructions... watch where I point and paddle as hard as you can towards there - I promise I won't point to rocks and in 30 years I have never not had a success boat trip..

Point of story - focus on what you want, NOT what you fear... focus on your strengths not your weaknesses... get really good at what you are good at and let someone else do the stuff you are not good at.

Want the tallest building... don't try and know down the other buildings, just build your taller!

Why do you contract to get a saving!!

The symbol of what is wrong with BIG Business

Mmmm... I got this bill from Telstra. "We are doing great things making your plan UNLIMITED... but I am paying for the top plan so I think why don't you give me a better monthly rate?? Reasonable question don't you think??

Anyway I am told I can get a better plan "totally unlimited " everything, and you save $50 a month... so I say yes BUT you have to contract for 24 more months.... no issue because I have been with Telstra for 42 years!!

But you have a "silent number" that is $3 a month NOT to list our number and we have to record this as a contract and owe we will list all your private details and do a credit check and .... and at that point I say STOP... why can't you just reduce the bill by $47 a month " We can't do that Sir... we can only change your plan if you have a new contract" and to do that you give up all sorts of things.

What should I have done... I am going to try again today and see if I get someone with commonsense and who will just change the plan... maybe but I am a patient person.

Well Sherlock who would have thought Wendy a Spy?

Wendy and Rupert - sly old dog

No shit - Wendy Deng is a spy!!

I remember my mum [ pretty sure it was her ] saying "There is no fool like an old fool " ] and thinking that when a few years ago filthy rich Rupert Murdoch married super model [ Chinese ] Wendy Deng. It was speculated it had to do with News Corporation expanding to China but the boys [ Rupert's ] started to kick up when the new daughter needed to be written into the inheritance plans... and I thought "Not bad work if you can get it Wendy"

Press scuttle butt says Tony Blair fell for the charms of Wendy and now the US press is in a frenzy, Wendy is being investigated as a Chinese spy - apparently Chinese diplomats have been whispering about Wendy for a while - OPEN SCERET I think the term is.

And this morning, Rupert is off to hospital after falling and hurting his back whilst on a sons Yacht [ or floating hotel ].

And I think Rupert is approaching 90 so there must be life in the old dog yet!

What was Niccolò Machiavelli on about?? Of yes BLOCKCHAIN

The future of Money?

What is The Machiavellian General Problem?

Machiavellianism is "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct" Basically you have to deal with everyone looking out for themselves rather than the common good, but not knowing what everyone thinks.

So, where did this challenging thought come from?? I am reading The Complete Dummies Guide for Blockchain. And to explain how nobody trusts anyone, the proof to make cryptocurrency work is the Blockchain - make it so hard to cheat that everyone plays by the same rules.

And this is done using Prime Numbers in calculations to prove an answer.... And if that is as clear as mud, this is what Blockchain mining is all about. Got it?? Well don't worry I am struggling too but it understand things like Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum you need to have a basic understanding of this stuff.

Winner writes history

Australia Day flag raising...

Thought for Today 88/500

I thought the winners wrote history... so I say leave Australia Day on January 26th, the day Cook raised the Union Jack at Botany Bay.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Will you starve or thrive

Michelangelo was RICH when he was alive!

To starve or thrive - it is only a choice!

Lots of stuff we just accept - like to be a great artist we need to go through pain... to starve and somehow the pain helps the art. We have been known [ I admit to this ] look down on successful artists like Ken Done and all his millions, However, I didn't begrudge Paul McCartney all those millions when I went to one of the 100 One on One shows of his world tour. It somehow is OK that he is rich become imagination.

So I am posing to you that artists deserve to thrive when they are making there art... Walt Disney is recorded as saying he didn't make films to make money but rather he made money so he could make films. [ Did you know the first truly BIG flow of cash came from the sale of Mickey Mouse watches.]

Also, Michelangelo was rich in his life time. Some say he was worth $50 million or more... and he was known to own multiple homes.

So here is to thriving... want to be part of Just 17 MasterMind let me know by commenting "Just17"

Fallen Heroes

Thought for Today 87/500

Fallen heroes?

A few years ago I was in the UK when the "news" broke about Rolf Harris... and I had trouble believing it because he was a childhood hero - he actually stayed with our family in Margaret River when he was a star on Channel 7 Perth... it turns out his justification for his behaviour was "everyone was doing it!"

And I have watched every episode and a few a few times of Dr Blake's Mysteries [ along with more than 1.5 million other Australians ] and the fall from grace of Craig McLaughlin seems complete and with it maybe Dr Blake... why has he been like this for so long??

It seems we put up with poor behaviour from anyone who "does it" chair sniffing Troy and George and we turn a blind eye...

I was soundly frowned on when I asked a young person politely to take his shoes off the chair at Macca's recently - not by the young guy who apologised - but my mature age companion who gave me the eye...

What are your defended boundaries??

Childhood memories - some last 60 years

Thought for Today 86/500

Nothing is ever new?? Or that happened before!

When I was about 6 going on 7, my mum decided to give me a birthday party and invite my class 1 friends... but when your birthday falls during the summer holidays most people actually go on holiday so the numbers were scant [ small ]

I am planning a birthday lunch on January 23rd, 2018 for my 66th... and the first 5 replies were - [1] on holiday, [2] in Bali, [3] in Dunsborough, [4] travelling 22nd to 28th, [5] sorry I am in India... the old memories came flooding back. And I remember now why birthday celebrations are problematic for me...