Ps She came second in the U10's

I mentioned a singing eisteddfod yesterday, well it was the Fremantle Eisteddfod and my nine year old gained a Second in the U10's and was just a couple of marks off the winners (and still with 2 x 80%)in two U13 contests. Even better without cajoling, using Skype last night, she shared one of her songs with her Nanna and Aunty in Belfast.

Those profits wouldn't even exist is there wasn't the possibility of an adequate return

Watching Q&A tonight I was struck by the fervour for the argument being somewhat disingenuously put out by the Rudd Govt that the Mining Super profits tax will ensure all Australians get a fair return for non-replaceable assets.

There is little recognition in the debate about mining companies and so-called super profits that those profits wouldn't even exist is there wasn't the possibility of an adequate return to compensate for the huge risks involved in exploration and production let alone participating in world markets. Sure the profits are large at present in raw terms but has anyone suggested looking at profits in terms of returns on the investment involved? I'd love to see some of our politicians argue over appropriates levels of ROI instead of rates of taxation or returns over the long term bond rate.

And another thing, perhaps a touch esoteric for some, but whilst there are those prepared to talk about rebating for royalties there seems to be little understanding of the factual realities of our federation. The six sovereign states that joined together to voluntarily form the Commonwealth of Australia never ceded their ownership of natural resources to the Federal Government. Our resources do not "belong" to the people of Australia as represented by the Federal Government, they belong to the people of our respective States and that's why State Government can, do and will continue to exact royalties.

Someone might kindly inform me if I'm wrong but I'd also suggest the PRRT argument is also a furphy as it pertains to profits on oil and gas from Federal waters not on State land.

Whatever the arguments for and against Mr Rudd's "great big new tax" (and there you have a clear statement of my position; some would call it bias but being biased does not necessarily mean one is wrong) on economic and even social grounds it must, in my view, be seen off as it is a direct attack on the sovereignty of our States. Many would say "who cares" but like with all freedoms hard won, they can easily lost but so very hard to regain. Let's not lose our freedoms in part from an ignorance of our history and country's foundation.

Best wishes, Jonathan.

Proud Dad and comfort zones.

My youngest daughter is performing in the Fremantle Eisteddfod today, singing in three categories and my eldest daughter is competing in the State final of Rotary's Four Way Test Speakers Challenge on Wednesday evening. Win or lose I am very proud of them and most particularly because of their involvement and participation.

The risks these young people take and the effort they put into their activities is both instructive and inspiring. They remind me of Tom Haupt's words which run along these lines: "to always retreat back to or simply stay within one's comfort zone will ultimately see it shrink in size. To take risks and leap beyond and keep doing so is to ever expand our comfort zone." We will achieve more and believe we can achieve more the more we take the risks and push out from it.

Those of us with children know this wisdom well as we live it daily encouraging them to strive and achieve more and more of their potential but most of us adults participate in "do what I say, not do what I do." That is to say we should listen to our own advice, we should learn from own wisdom and we should ever seek to move beyond what is comfortable. What am I doing that right now? Certainly I am comfortable in writing my thoughts, certainly I am even comfortable enough to take the risk of derision and censure but am I prepared to expand the circle? We shall see.

Cheers, Jonathan.

Getting stroppy in my old age!

I wrote this following note on the Linkedin Gorgon Group discussion page and the it is especially relevant and pertinet to those members of that group. As such the challenge below is to members of that Group and NOT to followers of this blog.

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Keeping Barrow Island really really clean, enhancing Gorgon production and maximizing the triple bottom line for the benefit of the JV partners, the environment and the country. .

Wouldn't you think a product that takes 100% of moisture in emulsion out of lubricant oil and diesel fuel, breaks the acid cycle, has engines running on clean and dry oil ALL the time with all the commensurate and positive impacts on cleaner outcomes, longer asset life, reduced service and breakdowns, lower emissions and the reduction of waste oil by a factor of 20 would be of interest to participants in the Gorgon Project? Me too! See www.engineoilfiltration.com

Wouldn't you think that a product that can remove hydrocarbons and heavy metals out of water would be of interest? Me too! And wouldn't you think that a range of products that prevents hard waste from entering water courses and water tables in the first place would work well in conjunction with the absorption product. You'd be right and some! Please see www.templug.com and www.mycelx.com.au

Now here's the rub, we live in exciting times here in WA with some of the biggest projects in the world going on, all a function of entrepreneurial activity and risk taking. Billions are committed. But try and be innovative and little happens.

Now here's the challenge to those relevant members of this group. Who has the courage and the authority together with the open mind to look at some relatively new products (though tried and test) and who is prepared to contact me and find out more about one or more of these products?

Good luck! Jonathan.

Is there a magic figure?

Numbers are certainly intriguing but often not as relevant as we think. At networking functions I attend or facilitate I sometimes feel disappointed by the numbers that actually turn up despite making the public pronouncement that numbers really don't do it for me. Funny enough it is often the smaller events that turn out to be the most effective, constructive and enjoyable. No doubt there is a middle ground in there somewhere but targeting an unknown figure is not much fun. I have certainly not set out to acquire vast numbers of friends on Linkedin per se as some people do, particularly using Twitter or Facebook. As I have written before I feel these online social networking systems only truly come into their own when facilitating meeting in person, not what is recorded on screen. However, in the last year from a standing start I have acquired over 500 Linkedin contacts. Have I met them all? No, not yet but the intent is there and the mindset on these issue is not only very meaningful and ultimately self-fulfilling but also introspectively instructive. But here's the horrible rub, I feel quite proud of my 500 plus friends. Does self-awareness obviate hypocrisy? I think not and I'll have to muse on that some more. Even so from a practical point of view it is fantastic. Given, amongst others, I make two bold claims in reference to my business, those being "there's not a door in this town I can't open" and "if I can't help you myself I'll know someone who can" then the greater number of people, not that I know but who know and trust me, the better. As these numbers grow my business becomes easier and importantly more creative. Now "creativity" - there's topic for this town! Cheers, Jonathan.

Etymology and enthusiasm

My daughters had College Sunday today, a service of celebration and thanksgiving in the company of their teachers, family and "House" at School. It was a happy and inspiring occasion, a lovely combination of drama, music, singing and worship. During the homily the Chaplain spoke of enthusiasm for life and mentioned the Greek based etymology of the word enthusiasm, being "en theo" and meaning "in God." It was one of those moments of great clarity when meaning meets understanding.

I am a great believer in foundations, especially in respect to education, whether it being the study of Greek and Latin, Chaucer and Shakespeare to understand the depth and beauty of our language, the proper study of history to contextualize the understanding of our present or the understanding of religion that underpins our Judeo-Christian society; whether we wrap ourselves in atheistic or agnostic secularism or in quiet belief or overt evangelism matters not. I find myself sadly lacking in many of these areas but hopefully that recognition is leading me to seek to fill in some of the gaps.

Recent reading has begun to open the doors of my understanding on the great depth of wisdom of the likes of John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Adam Smith and many many others. These great thinkers have done so much to shape our understanding of freedom and democracy, the right to property and the right to freedom of association and speech but few of us know it. And most of us don't even know where our views, beliefs and personal ethos come from or perhaps like myself have only the scantest knowledge and briefest of learning in this area. The challenge is now to do something about it.

Best regards, Jonathan.