I Wanted To Change The World When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family.
My family and I could have made an impact on our town.
Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.
Written by an unknown Monk around 1100 A.D.
1. Record response to call for new homes  There has been a record response to the call for electronic tenders to build new social housing dwellings in NSW, Federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek and NSW Housing Minister, David Borger announced this week.
The tender was for proposals of land and multi unit packages for potential purchase as social housing under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan. There has been a record response to the call for electronic tenders to build new social housing dwellings in NSW, Federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek and NSW Housing Minister, David Borger announced this week. The tender was for proposals of land and multi unit packages for potential purchase as social housing under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan. Ms Plibersek said the plan is a practical step towards cushioning the impact of the global financial crisis by supporting jobs in the construction sector. "Housing and construction is a major employer in the Australian economy", she said. "This is about jobs for builders and tradies as well as associated industries such as building manufacturers and suppliers who help keep the Australian economy ticking over." Mr Borger added that over the next three years, the Commonwealth and NSW Governments will invest $3 billion to build about 9000 additional social housing homes and support some 37,000 jobs and apprenticeships across NSW. "We need to move quickly - 75 per cent of the properties that the Commonwealth is funding need to be ready for tenants to move in by Dec 2010," he said. "We want 3,000 of those new homes to come from the purchase of private land with the potential for residential development and in early March we launched a request for proposals and held briefing sessions across the state with hundreds of people attending. "In just four weeks we received submissions for 877 sites which alone could deliver more than 15,000 new homes - giving us plenty of room to find the best 3,000." Mr Borger said the Government was looking for projects that deliver "the right homes, in the right location, for the right price". "We will not buy or build great numbers of new social housing homes in one location", he said.
"We know that healthy communities need a good mix of residents and we are determined to encourage better, stronger communities." The final 3000 will be released by June and it is expected that work will start shortly afterwards. 2. New `hardship' threshold to help borrowers Good news this week for homeowners having difficulty meeting their mortgage repayments, with the announcement by Senator Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, of changes to the `hardship' threshold. The threshold to access the hardship arrangements is set according to a complex formula that caps the access point at 110 per cent of the average loan size for new dwellings in NSW as set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics monthly. Good news this week for homeowners having difficulty meeting their mortgage repayments, with the announcement by Senator Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, of changes to the `hardship' threshold. The threshold to access the hardship arrangements is set according to a complex formula that caps the access point at 110 per cent of the average loan size for new dwellings in NSW as set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics monthly. It is currently $312,400 but that is set to change again to $500,000 on 12 May. "This means if homeowners find themselves in financial hardship they will be able to request
help", Minister Sherry said. "That might be a change to certain terms of their credit contract on the grounds of hardship or a postponement of enforcement proceedings." "We're also putting in place a new, simple and clear way of adjusting the threshold upwards in future, if we need to," he added. The minister said that this measure should also provide greater certainty to credit providers, since the threshold has ranged between $295,790 and $368,390 since 2004, making it difficult for providers and consumers to know if a loan qualifies. The changes are contained in the National Consumer Credit Protection Bill 2009, which was released in full on April 27, 2009. The threshold changes will take effect once the National Consumer Credit Protection Act commences, which is expected to occur on 1 November 2009. On 4 April 2009 the Government announced a new agreement with the four major banks, to assist borrowers facing financial hardship, and is working with industry associations to encourage the adoption of these principles by all lenders. 3. Sydney - one of the best  Sydney is one of the best cities in the world to live in, according to an annual appraisal of the most liveable cities for expatriates.
The Mercer 2009 Worldwide Quality Of Living Survey ranked Vienna as the most congenial city in the world for expatriates. Baghdad ranked last, due to its "lack of security and stability" continuing to have a large impact on quality of living. Sydney is one of the best cities in the world to live in, according to an annual appraisal of the most liveable cities for expatriates. The Mercer 2009 Worldwide Quality Of Living Survey ranked Vienna as the most congenial city in the world for expatriates. Baghdad ranked last, due to its "lack of security and stability" continuing to have a large impact on quality of living. Slipping into the top ten again for the second year in a row, Sydney (at 10th spot) was the highest-ranked Australian city again this year, ahead of Melbourne at 18 and Perth at 21.
Adelaide and Brisbane were considered less "liveable", ranked at 30 and 34 respectively, but still well within the top 100 cities in the world. Cities are ranked against New York as the base city with an index score of 100. Mercer's Quality of Living ranking covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments. This year's ranking also identifies the cities with the best infrastructure based on electricity supply, water availability, telephone and mail services, public transport provision, traffic congestion and the range of international flights from local airports. Slagin Parakatil, senior researcher at Mercer, commented that infrastructure has a significant effect on the quality of living experienced by expatriates. "Whilst often taken for granted when functioning to a high standard, a city's infrastructure can generate severe hardship when it is lacking", Mr Parakatil said. As far as infrastructure goes, Singapore topped the list, followed by Munich and Copenhagen. Sydney again was way ahead of the other Australian capital cities, ranked at 11 - below London (8) but above Paris (13). Melbourne was ranked at 35, while Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth all fell just below on 38. 4. The greener side of fences In simpler times past, the only important thing about a fence was whether it was tall enough, long enough and sturdy enough. With our expanding eco-consciousness, however, we are coming to realise that the materials we have been using to build our fences aren't always best friends to the environment. Non-recycled metal uses a lot of energy to manufacture and unless wood has been recycled, chances are it has contributed to tree-logging problems across the world. On top of that, commercially sold wood is often treated with chemicals to prevent decay and keep insects away. In simpler times past, the only important thing about a fence was whether it was tall enough, long enough and sturdy enough. With our expanding eco-consciousness, however, we are coming to realise that the materials we have been using to build our fences aren't always best friends to the environment. Non-recycled metal uses a lot of energy to manufacture and unless wood has been recycled, chances are it has contributed to tree-logging problems across the world. On top of that, commercially sold wood is often treated with chemicals to prevent decay and keep insects away. The good news is, that there is a growing range of eco-friendly fencing materials that hold more than their own. We have looked into some of the alternatives available - each offers a different look and feel, but it is a start to get you on some research into what type of fence would best suit your home. Here are some of the eco-friendly fencing materials we have found: Brushing up - made from the small straight stems of the broad-leaved ti-tree plant, brush fences are aesthetically pleasing and relatively easy to fit to your surroundings. The ti-tree stems are often left in their natural state and combined with painted plinths and cappings. Flavours of the orient - bamboo shoots bound together make exceptional fences, noted for their sustainability, easy installation, durability and pleasing appearance. A lot of available bamboo is imported from overseas, so if you've got the shoots in your sights, try to source some from an Australian harvester. On the way back around - fences made from recycled fibres like plastics, wood and wheat straw, are becoming more common, creating a fence that has the appearance of wood, but without needing the preservatives and maintenance. Lumber support - apart from being environmentally friendly, reclaimed wood will often be stronger than newer woods available on the market today. Hedging your bets - if you don't have a dog to keep within the yard, thick plants grown around a frame are a good way to obscure the view from the outside, giving you some privacy with a living, natural fence. Talk to your local horticulturist or council to find the best types of plants to grow in your area. 5. Stirring things up  Too many cooks may spoil the broth, but the cook who runs off to answer the phone may also ruin the soup.
Stirr, the automatic stirrer from uutensil, takes the hassle out of preparing meals that need constant stirring attention - simply place it `legs down' into a saucepan, push the button and watch it stir things up. Or run to answer the phone, knowing your soup, sauce, gravy or custard won't be sticking to the bottom in your brief absence. 6. For sale - by photo One of the first things a prospective buyer will see of your house is photos, so it is a good idea to take the time and effort to ensure it is shown off to best advantage. They should be clear, well-presented and make your house look instantly attractive. Good photos need a little preparation, so first take a walk around the house and choose the right angle to present its best features. Clear away any clutter and add a few accessories such as a vase of flowers (or a bowl of fruit in the kitchen). If there is a great view from one of the windows, or a garden area beyond glass doors, include it as part of the room, if possible. Frame it using the fittings (open the curtains wide) and by angling the furniture so that the eye is led beyond the room. Have a professional take the photos and be prepared to repeat the exercise a few times before you get them right. | |
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