I’m pretty sure that we will have a change of government here in Queensland at the next state election, and I’m pretty sure that the LNP will win office.  I’m just concerned that a lot of the campaign is about Lawrence Springborg – or “The Borg” as he has managed to convince some immature people to call him.  It has really grated on my sensibilities and has put me off somewhat for the campaign this time.  I do find him to be something of a hick but more importantly the LNP campaign is not about him, it’s about the LNP being able to serve Queensland better than the ALP.  We can’t put all our hopes on one person.  First of all because people fail and secondly it’s one of the biggest criticisms we’ve had of the Beattie and now the Rudd governments.  There seems to be no room for the team in the face of the giant ego of the “leader.”  The Liberals and Nationals aren’t meant to be like that, we’re meant to be a bit more about the team, the people and also have some decent policies rather than just relying on the charisma (or perhaps the hubris) of one person.  I also find all the ridiculous photos of him over everything and with people happy to promote 'the borg' campaign (asopposed to the LNP campaign) is kind of nauseating and juvenile.

The other thing that I’m slightly concerned about is that we seem to be launching small policies – travel subsidies, public transport discounts etc – without looking at the bigger issues such as transport infrastructure and increasing rural access to government services.  There are a couple of other parties that I have noticed dwell on the small policies and they are far from successful – ONP, Family First and to some extent the Democrats.  It usually shows that people aren’t really thinking from an ideological base as well.

Perhaps I’m just in a bad mood and perhaps I’m just over cautious as Springborg as he has led the side through more than one unsuccessful campaign.  And it may also just be that I despise the term “The Borg” being used anywhere out side of that famous bastion of the geeky – Star Trek.

It put me to mind of another friend from my post-grad study who always, always came to my birthday parties until this year.  I especially needed him as I had 4 single girls attending and only one single guy.

R informed me that it may have something to do with bringing along a wonderful boyfriend to the party last year.  They were probably interested and got scared off.

I’m still not quite accepting of that theory.

Perhaps I’m in denial, because I actually enjoyed many of the friendships I have with these guys!  That and I still have a lot of single gal friends so it’s kind of useful to have even numbers on the few occasions I ask every one to come out for dinner (I will clear myself of any attempts at matchmaking here as I know that most of my friends don’t get along with/like each other so I don’t even try).

Anyhow, I shall have to find out if this is a universal principle or it’s just coincidence that I seem to be hearing from my friends less.  If it is true, it’s also very confusing as I really got the impression that most of my male friends weren’t interested in that way.  Is it really true that men and women can't be friends?

Generally speaking, if my career fails I do claim that I would like to be a trophy wife, because it’s socially acceptable.  What I really want to be is a War Lord.  It would be so much fun to pick fights with neighbouring powerbrokers and watch their fragile egos crumble as I manipulate them into using up their time and resources.  It would be kind of cool to strategically plan resources and purchasing to protect my own little empire and bring down the others.  I think I’d quite enjoy it, apart from the being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.  This is perhaps a good reason to stick to playing Command and Conquer and Age of Empires instead of moving to the Sudan or Afghanistan.

I have also read today that if I ever really want to live out my fantasy, I should think about moving to the UK.  Which is something I was going to do anyway as soon as I find myself entirely single* and fancy free again.  Apparently the UK is responsible for one third of the world’s weapons trade.  Somehow I also think aiming to be CEO or CFO of an arms dealer would be more profitable than sitting in a palace in the desert waiting for an under trained army of 12 year olds trying to steal my land…

*Single as in having no attachments rather than unmarried.  Technically I’m single as in unmarried at the moment.  I’d just be really disappointed if I left the country at the moment.

I have been reading some bits and pieces from a book on economics relating to the IMF.  I started reading it under the mistaken assumption he was the Fisher of the International Fisher Effect, but that’s Irving Fisher.  I need to get my economists straight!

I’ve pasted an extract from the book relating to a speech given to the Indian government regarding economic improvements and thought it was actually pertinent to Australia’s economic situation at present.  Our government is obsessed with inflation, even though 4% is actually quite low when moderate inflation is considered to be over 9% and does not become hyperinflation until it reaches over 50%. 

I’ve been thinking about the issue of interest rates and inflation a lot as it is quite illogical that Australia is not the only country in the world experiencing high inflation, but it is the only one combating it with increased interest rates.  Increasing interest rates decreases inflation in the short term, but long term harms productivity and investment.  It also harms borrowers as they have to pay back more.  In fact it plays into the hands of banks because the return they get on interest from borrowing is decreased in real terms when inflation is up.  But the real return is significantly increased when they are higher and inflation is lower.  I got to thinking about this more because

Listening to Bloomberg radio talk about how one of the benefits of the decreased interest rates was that foreign investors would borrow rather than domestic, taking money out of supply and circulation.  I wondered if Australia can do something to launch itself as a desirable market to borrow from, however some of this may have been thwarted by the decision made by several of our major banks to not list on the NYSE due to onerous listing requirements thanks to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Sadly this Act gives me a lot of work even here in Australia. 

I’ve included this extract not only because I think it raises some important economic issues for Australia, but highlights the need to combat inflation without choking growth and productivity but also that inflation can be caused by things such as poor infrastructure.  I know Queensland is not alone in needing some major infrastructure developments, I think something in the vicinity of $120 billion is planned for the next 10 years.  But contrary to what is currently propagated, this may actually force inflation down rather than up.  The reason being that there will be less strain on current resources, producing greater cost efficiencies.  Every one’s a winner. 

To be honest I’ve always felt uneasy when our present federal government has said that restricting growth and government spending is a good way to combat inflation.  But as with most economic issues opinions will diverge.

IMF Essays from a Time of Crisis: The International Financial System, Stabilization, and Development by Stanley Fischer

Tackling Inflation

Inflation is sometimes referred to as the cruellest tax of all, because of its heavy incidence on the poor, and because it is to a considerable extent invisible to most of those who bear its burden. The poor in India seem particularly vulnerable to inflation. Their wages are set in nominal terms in an economy with minimal indexation. Moreover, most of their limited financial savings is held in the form of currency.

Beyond its adverse distributional effects, inflation also directly reduces growth and slows the rate at which poverty is reduced. Much research, including Fischer (1993), has demonstrated the negative association between inflation and growth.^[8]

There are many reasons for such a negative relationship: among them that inflation creates uncertainty, reduces the efficiency of resource allocation (in part through its interactions with the tax system), lowers investment, and thus reduces the rate of productivity growth. Inflation in the double digits, or in the upper single digits, serves no useful purpose, often threatens to rise further, and should be fought and reduced.

How can inflation be brought down while minimizing the short term impact on growth? An effective inflation reduction program requires measures both to contain aggregate demand and to enhance aggregate supply. To complement these measures, institutional reforms to establish a policy-making framework with a clear commitment to price stability would reduce the potential costs of inflation reduction.

On the demand side, sustained fiscal adjustment supported by monetary policy is the lynch-pin of successful price stabilization. Reducing inflation without choking off growth will depend crucially upon substantial further fiscal consolidation. First, deficit reduction would reduce the pressures for monetary financing of the deficit by the RBI. The RBI has successfully resisted these pressures in recent years, but has allowed the foreign exchange inflow to affect money growth. A further reduction in the deficit would give the monetary authorities more room to offset the effects of the capital inflows. Second, fiscal adjustment would ease pressure on interest rates and allow a greater share of resources to be made available to the private sector. A tight monetary policy without supporting fiscal policy could be effective in bringing down inflation in the short run. However, it would raise real interest rates, tend to promote a real exchange rate appreciation, and thus discourage the investment and exports needed for sustained growth.

This is not the occasion to go deeply into the question of how to continue reducing the deficit and ensure that the debt-to-GDP ratio begins to decline.

What is needed are measures that would unambiguously establish the direction and durability of reforms. In particular, continued tax reforms and improvements in the structure of government spending programs are essential. Well-designed expenditure reforms would leave room for necessary spending on infrastructure and human capital and help to foster confidence in the sustainability of adjustment.

On the supply side, the combination of a rapidly growing economy and a relatively inefficient distribution system is likely to lead to bottlenecks and capacity constraints in the period ahead, which would add to inflationary pressures. To relieve such pressures, high priority should be given to further import liberalization, taking advantage of the present high level of international reserves. Lifting internal restrictions on trade in agricultural products and improving facilities for the distribution and processing of foodstuffs would also help. Perhaps most importantly, India's infrastructure (particularly its power supply, ports, and roads) need to be modernized rapidly. In view of the resource constraints faced by the Government, this will require finding effective ways to involve private capital.

Finally, let me stress the importance of making inflation an explicit policy target and establishing an institutional structure for policy making that demonstrates a clear commitment to price stability. A number of countries have acted recently to achieve price stability after years of tolerating moderate rates of inflation—including Chile, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Innovations have included publicized "policy target agreements" between the minister of finance and the central bank governor and legislation to increase central bank autonomy. Last year's agreement between the Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance regarding the phasing out by 1997/1998 of the RBI's ad hoc financing to the Government is important in this regard. Its effective implementation—and implementation is so far on track—would enhance the central bank's ability to run an independent and anti-inflationary monetary policy.

One of the managers at work has been talking a lot about the “Entitlement Generation” and the fun she has had working with them in one of our offices abroad.  I think this may vaguely equate to what is usually dubbed as Gen Y.  Any one who knows me well knows that I hate it when people talk about generations and gives them broad characteristics.  They are at best unhelpful stereotypes and at worst reinforcing agist discrimination and perpetuating the gap between people of different ages and generations.  But every so occasionally, I do see some characteristics in people of a particular age.

I have been thinking, why would a whole generation think that they are entitled to everything when they have done nothing?  I figured that one thing that would influence young people fairly universally is the education system.  And our education system does have a tendency to be a wee bit left of centre.  Given that it’s a unionised work force and most of the teaching theory propagated at the universities my friend and I studied education at comes from the left side of thinking, it’s hardly a surprise.  I also think that many teachers perpetuate the left wing nature of the education system whilst being unaware of it.  I certainly didn’t have a good understanding of ideology or politics when doing my undergrad courses.  And aside articles labelled as “A Marxian Approach to Heart of Darkness” or “Socialist approaches to the press.” I just found it all very interesting but not quite right.  So I’m not blaming people in the profession at all.

One line from Karl Marx that I will never forget is “From each according to his ability to each according to his need.”  Which is logical for some one who doesn’t believe in private property and completely angering for someone who does.  So if we are taught that we should have things according to our needs, rather than our ability, then surely it’s logical that we feel entitled to everything that others have.  We’ll feel entitled to good jobs, good incomes, to be fed, clothes and cared for (medically at least) because we need those things.  This entitlement could also be extended to the way we expect to be treated, the way we feel and acceptance others have of us.  If we propagate the idea need=entitlement, or even an ideology where that is a logical thought, then why are we surprised by a demanding generation that ignores that hard work not having a particular attitude has got previous generations what they have.  We have failed to teach a whole generation that hard work, making the most of opportunities and making progress over a long time (decades in many cases) is what gets you anything and everything you believe that you are entitled to.

To each according to their ability is not such a bad set up at all really.

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I'm going to stake a claim on my favourite word before some one else claims they invented it.

tech·no·bim·bo [noun, plural -bos, -boes. Slang.]

1. A foolish, stupid, or inept person where technology is concerned.

2. Disparaging and Offensive. an attractive but stupid young woman who makes frequent errors when using a computer, esp. one who should know better.

[Origin: 2007, Angelaism]

 

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http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/3/306

Apparently the APA is now considering including a new type of compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder surrounding internet addiction.  To qualify you need to excessively game, have  a sexual preoccupation or excessively email or text.  It is characterised by:-

excessive use can include a loss of sense of time or a neglect of basic drives;

withdrawal, including feelings of anger, tension, and/or depression when the computer is inaccessible;

tolerance, including the need for better computer equipment, more software, or more hours of use; and,

negative repercussions, including arguments, lying, poor achievement, social isolation, and fatigue.

Apparently this addiction has led to deaths and even murders, although research has been restricted to China and South Korea at the moment.

I’m not sure about all the others out there, but this sounds like run of the mill internet usage for me (tolerance and negative repercussions aside).  In fact it sounds like perfectly normal behaviour for quite a few of my acquaintances!

Recently, in my quest to know every bit of general knowledge possible, I have been staying up quite late, spending hours trawling through endless pages (eg loss of time), and I have to say that I do feel a little irritable if I can’t check facebook or mail for more than 3 days at a time.  However I’m proud to say that as my addiction has nothing to do with gaming, porn or excessive email and texting, I am not compulsive-impulsive!  (And before any one comments, I have significantly cut down my texting and more specifically my texting when I’m in no state to be communicating with the sober in the last 18-24 months, so your accusations will not be considered substantative.)

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I've recently had a few comments and PM's on the blog that I starated writing when I was thinking a lot about being single early last year.  I finally wrote an entry explaining that I had abandoned it due to the fact that I have now been going out with a wonderful guy for just over 6 months now.  Also that I thought the premise of being single = being tragic and funny was quite flawed.  It's not, it's great and just after abandoning writing I had also resolved to stay single last year.  So much for my resolution.

Since then I have been wondering if I could do a similar blog about being in relationship - it's a very novel experience for me as I have only once made it past 3 dates before!  People keep asking me if we've discussed x or y, when we'll move in together and can they please be a bridesmaid.  It is a little overwhelming.  Especially as it seems a little too soon for all of the above.  Also I'm in expereinced at having conversations like that in a causal or sensitive way.  I admit there would be some humor in recounting the dilemas about keeping quiet on some things (stupid thoughts like, 'our kids would have x colour eyes or hair', my lack of commitment to admiring every car/boat/house that is the same type as his or my anxiety at being doomed to the 'burbs rather than inner city); trying not to be too opinionated about things I'm not sure about yet (does he want more or less kids than me; the whole I won't move in with some one I'm not married to thing; my desire to have some one to trapse around the US for a week if work sends me there again) and showing enthusiastic agreemet on mutual points of interest (aka playing up the positives), as well as the whole tring not to read too much* into comments gesutres, purchases etc.  But it all seems a little like airing ones dirty laundry in public. [Note: brackets indicate general examples... mostly.]  The other problem is that any one could read what I'm thinking.  Or if he does the same any one could read what he's written and I know people who have had the contents of their blog aired in front of large groups and the mass media.  Additionally, writing like this could cause conflict if I blog my thoughts before distiling or discussing them - with me my first thoughts or reactions are almost always bad, even about good things - and if I blogged when I should discuss it would be crossing that line over into passive aggression.  And I'm not a fan of aggression in relationships of any variety.

Also at the end of the day I don't want to feed the misconception that it is better to be in a relationship and have a boyfriend\partner\husband than being single.  Which I think articles, blogs and other lite entertainment on the topic of relationships does.  It's a serious thing and it has it's positives and negatives at every stage and doesn't deserve to be romanticised or put down.  So no more relationship blogs for me unless I find something very general and very amusing.  In the mean time if you want to read about amusing singles stores try Tucker Max - but be prepared for the depraved.

*I am yet to come across a young woman who doesn't try and read reactions and comments too much, even if she's smart enough to immediately dismiss her thoughts.

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There came a time where our patrol needed a new second, and as I’d been there a year and a half longer than all the other girls in our patrol and had been actively involved in everything and then…  I was sick.  At least I think I was sick.  The other reason I didn’t make it to a lot of extra-curricular activities was because my mother regularly had breakdowns whilst my father was away meaning I did a lot of half-terms in things like ballet and tennis.  And because I was away on that one night, I missed out.

Bitterly disappointed I ended up leaving before I finished my BP award and possibly still owing money for half a box of girl guide cookies I didn’t have the heart to doorknock for.  The new girl who became second and eventually patrol leader before I left, nominated her best friend as her new second.  And that was it.  They were just too cliquey and if I belonged to any clique it was the girls who had just left.  I was on the outside and the way down.

I’ve learned this applies in work as well.  I’ve had managers leave and you get sent straight to the bottom of the pile if they have their own staff with them.  Alternatively the need to quickly and strategically ingratiate myself with the new manager often fails to happen as quickly as others do, which can be disastrous, especially if the others are not out to do you any favours.  Sometimes it bodes well to start with a new organisation and a fresh reputation.  Especially if the new manager is willing to believe the worst of you or to only act in the interests of their pets.

I know that this may seem a little defeatist, but part of winning, is knowing when to fight.  I don’t believe that these sorts of battles are easily won.  But that’s something that I’ve been reflecting on lately for some reason.

I've recently come across a few situations lately where people have commented that I've been too nice, or at least nicer than they would be.  I've wondered why I do this, and possibly if this is letting me down in my path to success (I've been thinking about this as I've been trying to read two of Robert Greene's books lately).  Apparently there is no room for mercy and kind feelings.

At first I thought this was mostly because of my fairly strong Christian outlook and ethics.  I'm not meant to do a bad turn by any one.  I'm not meant to be a doormat or to be taken advantage of, but not to go out of my way to do the wrong thing.  Even if some one does that to me.  I actually I think I'm shocking at doing this, but perhaps I'm better than I thought.

My second thought was that I am quite neurotic.  This can be good, as it makes me very contientious and there are some things that I can look at and plan in detail.  It's a bad thing because if I think there is even a hint of doing the wrong thing or something unethical on my part, it drives me nuts.  Even if I get off scott free or no one knows, the state of anxiety my mind can go thorugh is really not worth the worry.  I am getting better at not doing this and there are somethings that I know I'm qutie dismissive of (my diet for example) but on the whole when it comes to other people I will always try to do the right thing.

My third thought on this perhaps as a result of my neuroticism, is that perhaps I'm just a coward and don't like doing my own dirty work.  If I have the information or even the power to see the demise of some one, then I usually won't go ahead with it.  But if some one else does I may just feel a little pang of twisted happiness.  So I can't be that nice?  Can I?

But it's also made me wonder, what is the appropriate level of being selfish or acting in self-interest.  I'm all for good community citizenship but then it's also important to know where the limits are... How nice do we have to be before we're rude and nasty?

The clearest sign of poor management and planning, in the private sector, is constant fire fighting.  It's like a sign that you've pretty much failed to do anything right.  Upon considering this, it is easy to recognise that it is because 'fire fighting' is purely reactive.  It sits back and waits for a crisis rather than plans how to move forward and considers risks and how they can be mitigated.

Arguably it is time that sometimes prevents this, but a good manager/leader makes time.

I've come to think that there is no reason why this shouldn't be applied to other spheres as well, most notably my favourite past-time, government.  Putting aside the fact that I think most government is useless and wasteful and at best prevents genocide being commited on a large scale against natural-born beuracratic thinkers (law enforcement excepted of course), I am announcing a plan to investigate this.

I will say up front, that this is the number one thing that hacks me off about Beattie, because after how every many terms he's been in office, he's still fire fighting.  However, I know that our Federal government is not immune from reactive policy and legislation as well.  It just doesn't seem to be so overwhelming.  I will say council is best for not doing this as every thing they talk about sounds new to me...  possibly because none of it is in my local area.

So what I propose is this, over the next few weeks to test what announcements that have come from both levels of government are reactive and what is pro-active.  It will be based on press-releases on the websites of the PM and the Premier as well as a haphazzard sample of their ministers, and will span the last 12 months.  The nature of the press releases will be examined not only by the wording of the release but also from common knowlege (so for example when Beattie announces a new dam project rather than says it's in response to the water crisis, it will still be labelled as reactive).

After that I then plan to come up with some statistics which will be remarkably satisfying to play arround with (I'm a nerd, I love numbers) to come up with some findings - if there are any to be had at all.

I'm open to any amendments in the test procedure.

Signing out, finance geek and sometime auditor, AJ.

I went to Kangaroo Point this morning to take a couple of happy snaps to use in a series of drawings I've had in my head for a bit.  It was such a nice morning I thought I'd post the photos.

• Brush up on forms of address in Debretts (www.debretts.co.uk)
• Remember to wear a tiara or coronet, only royalty and tools wear crowns.  If you're reading this your not royal.
• Make a love shrine to Prince William.
• DO NOT listen to any ettiqute advice from Ita Butrose.  She published a book on it before she even knew how to hold a knife and fork properly.  Hardly the sort of woman to trust.
• Brown nose other Queens Birthday Honours listed individuals to strategise as to the least effort method for getting on the list in coming years.  I suggest getting a ridiculous hair cut, marrying a spice girl and occassionally playing soccer.
• Take High Tea.
• Watch The Queen, Elizabeth and read Lily Langtry's diaries.
• Try and spend the day only thinking of Prince Charles in terms of his charity work and organic produce.
• Look up some quotes from Prince Philip and have a good giggle.
• Hug a monarchist. (We need love too)

(Look, big feet!)

All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy.  Feign disorder, and crush him.

If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. 
If he is in superior strength, evade him.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.  Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. 
If his forces are united, separate them.

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.

  I always think it's interesting comparing the modern and ancient hypocratic oaths.  I'll let you draw your own observaions.

Ancient:

I swear by Apollo, Ζsculapius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement, the following Oath.

To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone the precepts and the instruction.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.

To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.

Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot.

Modern:

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

Don't blame me, blame google.

Saturday update at Deena's request:

Well I know some of you have been posting pics that remind you of our friends here.  I'm lazy so I'm just going to post the first picture that comes up in google images when I put your or your name or your alias or a variant ther of in.  What can I say, I'm lazy, I've been writing about Socially Responsible Investing for the last month.

Kell/Empty Angel     Paul/prwld        Tinacee

Catdog                     Aries 67                       Snowy

Poex                 Kitty                  ChrisDay

Chezza              Tourleader                  cc

Raven                   Rinny                 Ninja

Rachel/RRMakepeace                 Klarth               Smoking Baby

Beijing Fish               Bat45                    JR

Deena            BlackSheep100            Hairstar

All completely random I know.  And sorry I didn't get every one.  I think I should do some of my friends that comment regularly too!

Referencing

• Every referencing style known to humanity
• Harvard Style Referencing

Assignment writing

• QUT Online Guide
• Grammar and Punctuation
• Thesis Writing

Is it wrong (or at least odd) that in two days in between reading documents for my next project, I have written as much at work as I did over the three day weekend?

My theory is that now I've re-read everything my thoughts are clearer and whilst I'm at work I'm not distracted by the thought that my friends are out having fun and my mother calling to see when I'm coming for dinner...

7pm update, 4158 words of 6000-8000 with 550 in typed notes - so close now.