Unless you are living under a rock or in a cave, you know the Australian 2007 Federal Election has been called for Saturday 24th November.

Here is the all-important date (remember, if you don't enrol to vote by 8pm Wednesday 17th October you won't be able to vote in this November election.


*** Deadline for new enrolments 8pm Wednesday 17th October ***


"Compulsory voting

Compulsory voting means that every Australian citizen (18 years or older) is required by law to enrol and vote. If a person does not vote and is unable to provide a "valid and sufficient" reason, a penalty is imposed. Compulsory voting is a distinctive feature of the Australian political culture..."*


Here's an easy way to check online to see whether you are currently enrolled to vote: Check Enrolment Details

If you can't find your details, you can call 13 23 26 to find out if you need to enrol. Please note: you only have 2 days!!!

Make sure you check your details and make your vote count!

:-)


*source: http://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/index.htm

technorati tags: Federal Election Vote Australian Electoral Commission

I have also made another stunning realisation this week - saving money is completely boring. But what is more annoying is having a credit card debt and no savings whatsoever.

The other thing I have noticed is that it is no longer fashionable to save money in a bank. It seems it is more important to look as if you have money rather than actually having it. Which is stupid. Going into debt to look like you are wealthy...er...DUH!!

So what is fashionable? Buying a $500 pair of shoes that you will wear once? Shrewd investment, that one.

I tried to find out the source of the problem. Many people say "TV" or "Magazines" which can be a factor, definitely. But I often laugh at these ads and say "wow, check this new kind of watch out...if you buy it you get a free yacht and bodyguards."

The hardest form of advertising is this kind...

Person 1: "Hey guys, howzit going?"

Person 2: "Hey, I got one of those new iPhone/camera/movie player yesterday."

Person 3: "Me too! I got it for $400."

Person 2: "Hah, I got it for $370."

Person 1 (thinking): "Is my life complete without one of these? Everyone else seems to need one. I'm going to look like I'm not good enough if I don't have one. Sh!t, I don't have $400...or $300 for that matter. I do have a credit card though...."
(insert diabolical laughter here)


The next day Person 1 has a new iPhone/camera/movie player thingy. And a $400 credit card debt. And still no money in the bank. They take it home and unwrap it, waiting for the satisfaction and sense of achievement to sink in.


Person 1: "Err... what do I do with it?

*Thinks hard*

How about that! I don't think I wanted the dang thing anyway.

But it's the latest upgrade...and so and so has one and now I have one and now I can....

Er....

Sh!t."

Technorati Tags: saving money

I have made an amazing realisation.

To buy clothes, you have to fit into clothes.

To fit into clothes, you have to do stuff. Like exercise.

After this incredible epiphany occurred, I made a decision. I am going to walk every day. No matter what. This weather is driving me nuts - no daylight savings, there are heavy rains, stupid winds, blustery, wind chilling, bone chilling and hand freezing days.

Brrrrrrrr.

Well, I''ve had enough. I'm going walking. Nobody is going to stop me.

Mantra to self:

"The more you exercise, the greater the number of clothes look good on you. The more you exercise, the greater the number of clothes in your wardrobe suddenly become options. The more you exercise, the less grumpy you are about not being able to wear that horizontally striped top."

Wish me luck :-)

Technorati Tags: walking exercise hand weights

It's amazing what you can find on Ebay:























Bush Sticky Notes

Innovative idea. Usually when I want to say something stupid I just write it in a blog post...

Although it does beg the question, what would you write on them?



It just sprang to mind since we recently had the "OPEC" summit here in "Austria".

Technorati Tags: weird ebay silly auctions George W Bush

It seriously took me 2 hours to get through my emails this morning. Over 100. That doesn't even include my other email account with Hotmail. Argh!! I got so many of those "FROM THE DESK OF..." or "READ VERY CAREFULL." Drives me mad. Why oh why would anyone fall for that sort of thing anymore? Although there is always the one person who ends up on A Current Affair saying "I thought they were legitimate...I just can't believe they did that to me!!" It is horrible. Those people should be put in jail. Also, people shouldn't be allowed to be that naive. There should be some kind of worldwide education campaign to stop people being foolish with their money and personal details. I don't quite know how it would work, perhaps it should be included in school curriculum. "Internet Privacy and Scam Issues 101". Perhaps people like me have to do it as a public service announcement.

Anyway, here's the latest one to look out for. It is very sneaky. I knew it was a fake immediately because it was sent to an email address that has nothing to do with my PayPal stuff. But...for some people they will send it to the address that IS registered with PayPal and you really don't want to absent-mindedly click this one...


























The really sneaky bit is this part:

"Note:
If you haven't authorized this charge ,click the link below to dispute transaction
and get full refund"

That is so low. They make you think you have been charged for a transaction you didn't make (which of course, you didn't!) then they give you a chance to "dispute" the transaction. Bad bad people I hope they go to hell and are forced to spend lots of time with a bunch of fascist dictators that want a new person to "play" with.

By the way, if you get one with "CONTACT UPS FOR YOUR PARCEL", note the part that mentions the "...cash payment to avoid losting this funds..."

I think I'll take my chances on losting this funds.

Technorati Tags: spam email