| Did you know? |
If you earn One Hundred Thousand dollars a year, one minute of your time is worth a little more than eighty five cents?
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| Food for Thought |
Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~Janet Lane
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Poll Results
In a recent poll, one American in four has yet to ride in an airplane.
As for the three out of four who have, most have flown several times. Fewer than two percent have been "bumped" from a commercial flight.
And for every person who prefers an aisle seat, there are three who prefer windows. |
| Why Me? |
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| Greetings!
What a month!
Definitely a 'where were you' period in time. The 9/11 disaster, Princess Di and Elvis deaths are all 'where were you' moments. Buddy Holly's death was probably another moment that my older readers would consider memorable. A bit before my time though. Michael Jackson's death, I'm sure, will be another of those moments.
An interesting video can be seen here
So much has been made of the deaths of the two celebrities Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. I was never a big fan of Fawcett, but I grew up with The Jackson 5, The Jacksons and Michael Jackson.
Probably the saddest thing to see though is the unbridled hero worship of Jackson. At the time of writing, 12 people are reported to have committed suicide on hearing of his death. More here.
To be held in such awe by people who had never even met him, is I guess, a sign of his incredible talents and charisma. Granted he did a lot for charities around the world, but at the end of the day he was just an entertainer, albeit a very good one.
Someone that also died this week, with very little fanfare, was Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald (57). She was the physician who diagnosed and treated her own breast cancer before a dramatic rescue from the South Pole. FitzGerald was the only doctor at the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in winter 1999 when she discovered a lump in her breast. It then moved to under her arm. She was in extreme discomfort, and found it hard to move.
Extreme cold ruled out an immediate rescue, so with guidance from US-based doctors via the Internet, she performed a biopsy on herself with the help of a machinist to do the biopsy, and a welder to help with the Chemo.
She continued treating herself with the anticancer drugs delivered during a mid-July airdrop by a USAF plane under blackout and in freezing conditions, until she could be rescued by the Air National Guard in October, in the coldest and earliest flight to land at the Pole ever attempted at the time. The temperature was a very cold -57.
In the last 10 years of her life, she never complained, but toured many places talking about cancer, encouraging and helping others to come to terms with what was happening to their bodies. She kept doing this knowing that cancer had invaded her bones and Brain.
I'm sure if anyone really needs to be remembered for inspiring others, for their courage and character, it should be Dr FitzGerald and others like her. |
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A Changing Economy
A recent report by Daniel Palmer called "Downturn Generation" changing food spending habits, reveals that the current recession has created a new niche of consumers identified as the "Downturn Generation", and are likely to have a major impact on the consumer packaged goods sector.
The research, "Dissecting the Downturn Generation: Recognising and Leveraging Permanence in Today's Transformational Economy," by Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), has found a new generation of Americans adopting practices similar to Depression-era shoppers and similar responses could be expected here in Australia.
Shoppers are changing behaviours to adapt to the unstable economy and developing new habits they intend to continue even if the economy improves.
The report reveals permanently changed approaches among three groups:
- Optimists - believe "things will get better during the next 12 months," are spending wisely, cutting back selectively and making sacrifices as a last resort
- Maintainers - agree that, "the economy won't get worse, but it won't get better either" and are also spending wisely, but are more aggressive about making cutbacks
- Pessimists - identify with the most dire predictions, believing "if you think times are hard now, next year will be worse", and are taking every opportunity to reduce expenditure and hunting tirelessly to find deals
Shoppers' weakened financial conditions are profoundly affecting how they shop and what they buy, with more than 69 per cent saying they are more likely to look through retailer ads for deals and around four in five (82%) more likely to look for sale prices once in the store.
Importantly for food manufacturers and retailers, just under two-thirds (65 per cent) say price is becoming more important than convenience in brand purchases.
"Financial pressures are causing shoppers to give up favourite brands, buy smaller quantities of preferred items or postpone non-essential purchases for entertainment in order to save money for their most important needs," IRI Consulting and Innovation President Thom Blischok advised.
"Additionally, between 30-47 per cent of consumers are buying less healthy products, and fewer fresh produce and organic items. This is a fundamental shift from the trends we noted before the economic downturn."
I read the last paragraph with interest. Its been noted by a few that most fast food restaurants offering set menu meals are booming in terms of growing client bases. You would be forgiven thinking that money must be plentiful with the vast numbers visiting these stores in a recessed economy.
It's interesting to note therefore that on June 9th 2009, McDonalds reported a 5.1% growth in May. Its been attributed to its dollar menu and value meals, and has been able to keep sales rising even as its sit-down restaurant chain competitors report steep declines.
They acknowledge that consumers looking to save cash have increasingly been turning to fast-food chains to take the place of a pricier meal out or a homemade meal.
The company reported strong sales in virtually every region of the world. European sales surged 7.6 per cent on strong results from France, Germany, Russia and the UK while sales for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa rose 6.4 per cent. It is also reported that McDonalds serves nearly 54 Million customers a day, everyday.
Excluding the effect of the dollar, sales climbed 7 per cent overall. It may explain why McDonalds shares are around $58 ea.
(source : ausfoodnews.com.au, ninemsn.com.au) |
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Hollywood Forever
Personally, I'm fascinated with cemetery plots.
Not through any morbid fascination I'm quick to add, but more toward the history associated with it. I can spend hours reading headstones.
Whilst old, turn of the century cemeteries are fascinating within themselves, I'd love to visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in Hollywood, California.
It is at the back of Paramount Studios, who, with RKO Studios, bought 40 acres (160,000 m2) by 1920.
A section of the cemetery is also set aside for members of Hollywood's Jewish community.
The cemetery was founded in 1899 on 100 acres as Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery. By the latter part of the 20th century it had become run down. Allegations of financial mismanagement caused the state of California to forbid the sale of plots.
On the verge of bankruptcy, Forever Enterprises purchased the now 62-acre (250,000 m2) property in 1998 for $375,000, surely a bargain in anyone's language.
It was renamed "Hollywood Forever," and restored and refurbished.
The cemetery is still operating today, with the longtime ban on the sale of plots being rescinded when the Forever Network restored the cemetery, and plenty of space for future graves remains.
Famous voice actor Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, is buried there and has a headstone that reads 'Thats all folks'.
It houses many well known 'stars' and some not so well known.
(source: Wikipedia.org)
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Global airline industry doubles loss estimate
Recently, an online report within the airline industry stated that, on the 8th of June this year, the global airline industry reviewed its forecast for losses this year to $US9 billion. Almost double its previous forecast.
They further warned the economic battering would continue for some time. It further reports that Qantas has delayed its purchase of Four A380's and Twelve B737's by upto 14 months, such is the downturn. It goes on to say that Qantas are putting 10 planes up for sale to combat the finance downturn.
The International Air Transport Association forecast was slightly better than the loss last year, but the association projected as recently as March that it would have a loss of $4.7 billion.
The trade group also said it now expected revenue across the industry to fall 15 percent, to $448 billion this year - a much steeper decline than after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.
Sales of first and business class tickets, in particular, have slumped as passengers have switched to economy class, depriving many carriers of a major source of revenue that is unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels any time soon.
The global industry's projected $9 billion loss is a slight improvement over the $10.4 billion loss in 2008, when fuel bills swelled to $165 billion as oil prices soared.
This year, I.A.T.A. expects airlines' fuel bills to fall back to $106 billion, but warned that oil prices could be pushed up again as the global economy began to recover.
Unfortunately, my business is based around tourism, and there is no question the major players in the tourism industry here in Australia are suffering as a result of the reduced numbers flying to our shores.
The only real positive is that more Australians are seeing more of Australia, which has to be a good thing.
That said, its not only passenger carriers that are suffering.
The authors go on to state in another report that UPS is actively seeking a $40 million cost savings this year from its pilots. One area being examined is looking for alternatives to furloughs.
Its been reported that the pilots union is considering leaves of absence, early retirements, reduced-pay-guarantee routes and job sharing, according to the company.
Roughly 300 pilots could be furloughed, or idled, if UPS doesn't get the savings it says it needs. That's 10 percent of the 3,000 pilots represented by the union.
The company said the severe downturn in the global economy has caused UPS package and freight volumes to decline.
(source: jetphotos.net) | |
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I guess my Queensland based readers have heard that our state government is taking away our fuel subsidy from July 1, 09.
This government has admitted that it will increase fuel by up to 10c a litre. You would also have heard the the government in Queensland have approved electricity price rises. In an industry that uses a lot of electricity, this is unwelcome news.
Just these two rises will increase operating costs considerably, from courier fees to machine operating expenses.
I'm guessing we'll see prices rise from our wholesalers some time soon, and depending on those rises, we may have to revisit some of our own expenses.
Interestingly, Suncorp Stadium, the Queensland home of Rugby League has reported new electricity prices will add a $12,000 increase in the electricity bill per game played at the venue.
Makes me think of the Ronald Reagan when he said;
' Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
- If it moves, tax it.
- If it keeps moving, regulate it.
- And if it stops moving, subsidize it.'
He wasn't wrong.
Take care till next time.
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Shane Drew
Drews Sign It Pty Ltd |
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