Travels etc.

Why there should only be economic reasons to evaluate benefits of learning foreign languages? It's just natural for people who want to learn more about surrounding reality to study foreign language. Too easy. If they think it will help their children or themselves then even better. http://qz.com/148253/its-ok-if-your-kid-isnt-fluent-in-chinese-yet-thats-the-bottom-line-of-new-research-from-larry-summers/

50 people killed in the resent airplane crash: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/18/us-russia-crash-idUSBRE9AG0A820131118 "Russia and the former Soviet republics combined have one of the world's worst air-traffic safety records, with a total accident rate almost three times the world average in 2011, according to the International Air Transport Association." There are potentially several reasons for that, but one of the major - lack of care for the technical and human factor as well as over-utilizing the fleet without proper maintenance.

During my recent visit to Art Gallery of NSW this painting drew my attention. It depicts the exchange of the land for cloth. I wouldn't start a discussion now about the fairness of this deal - first of all it is all history and second as a matter of fact this type of deals fits very well into the marketing and wealth building concepts that are promoted everywhere. However I researched this subject a bit and found that this painting is not the only one about this historical event. 01. The first one was  Treaty of Penn with Indians by Benjamin West That work, it appears, influenced Edward Hicks and other artists to create multiple paintings of the same event. The difference is in details: 02. 03. 04. 05. This image is from  AllPosters.com 06. 07. A 19th-century lithograph by Currier & Ives By the way, William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania . He ...

Recently some Hindu authorities became excited about Ganesh and Lakshmi images on beer bottles produced by a brewery in Sydney: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/brewer-offends-hindus-with-ganesh-lakshmi-labels-20131112-2xdpx.html There is a couple of thoughts in this regard. Hinduism is not Australian national religion and there is nothing offensive in depicting the deities. Therefore why the brewery has to apologize?

Banking industry talks: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/financial-services/lower-credit-standard-scuttlebutt-narev/story-fn91wd6x-1226756921008 Educational issues: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1898771/lets-give-students-the-ability-to-think-freely/?cs=308 Boat people problem, related policy fails and contempt for voters: http://www.afr.com/p/national/jakarta_clash_with_canberra_over_vjF1yCjfi4enysIaE6hESJ http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/tony-abbotts-silence-on-indonesian-boats-shows-contempt-for-voters-20131110-2x9yf.html http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/tony-abbotts-quick-fix-to-turn-back-asylumseeker-boats-backfires-20131110-2xa56.html http://www.dailylife.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbotts-boat-policy-fails-test-20131109-2x8w5.html Climate change and carbon tax: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/tony-abbott-parliament-indonesia http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/11/resour...

Climate change and carbon pricing debates: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/11/10/17/03/gillard-urges-labor-to-keep-carbon-pricing http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/more-climate-debate-ahead-of-parliament-20131110-2x9kl.html Tony Abbott prefers his family home over official residence: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/prime-minister-tony-abbott-throws-cold-water-on-kirribilli-house/story-fni0fiyv-1226756525847 Travel expenses review for members of parliament: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-says-new-travel-expenses-rules-strike-balance-for-mps-20131109-2x8lp.html http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/tony-abbotts-new-expenses-rules-fail-to-change-the-game-20131109-2x8lt.html Employing wives in parliament: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/tony-tells-mps-not-to-employ-wives/story-fnii5s3y-1226756436595 Focusing on the future: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/treasurer-...

NSW development: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/green-light-for-323m-bruce-hwy-upgrade-work/2076006/ http://www.bigrigs.com.au/news/truck-rest-area-get-upgrade/2075845/ Foreign investments: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/no-danger-of-a-banana-republic/story-e6frg6n6-1226754500843# Cutting budgets: http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/funds-dry-up-for-councils-as-federal-government-sw/2076186/ Axing revenue plans: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/joe-hockey-blowing-out-the-budget-with-tax-changes-says-labor/story-fn59nsif-1226754070115 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/joe-hockey-says-accc-finances-were-left-to-run-down-by-labor/story-fn59niix-1226754732162 Tax matters: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/carbon-tax-tops-agenda-of-new-parliament/story-fni0xqi4-1226754981477 http://www.businessinsider.com.au/joe-hockey-gives-back-tax-benefits-for-conferences-and-leased-cars-2013-11 http://www.heraldsun...