If we are so great how come Child abuse & Poverty are a problem?

Kia Ora,

So where am I talking about?

The US where poverty is far greater than the government would like people to think?

Some third world country where child abuse is a cultural tradition?

Well the last one is sort of right, we are third world. Yep right here in New Zealand according to a UN report.

Child abuse is as the UN put it 'staggering', but we already knew that we just don't actually do a lot about it. It is the worst in Maori communities or appears to be from the amount of deaths from child abuse we see each year.

But do the Maori in positions of influence do anything? Not really they have become just another part of the bureaucracy & bureaucrats get nothing done.

Funny thing is people have taken steps to change it including Maori. If those steps are successful then it is either taken over by the bureaucrats ensuring its failure or is stopped especially if there is funding.

We can't have anything succeeding!

Don't dare speak up about it as Michael Laws did though he might of got it wrong in presentation & at times seems to be coming from a racist point of view you would have to believe his heart was in the right place on this issue watching the interview.

So we will just leave the system to create more criminals prone to violence.
Child Abuse and Neglect: Attachment, Development and Intervention
The other 'staggering' point in the UN report was the amount of poverty in New Zealand. Like crime people just do not want to see it or pretend it does not exist in New Zealand.

One thing about the military in particular the army you got to see not the best parts of the world as you travelled around including in our own country. So I was always well aware that there were many living on subsistance areas.

But it was leaving the army & working in security in what is supposed to be & always looked a well off city like Christchurch that I really got to see the poverty that we try to gloss over.

Again many turn to crime just to live. If the system turns against you as it does then many cannot handle it & find themselves living in poverty & resorting to crime.
The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time
There is one comment quoted from the report I don't agree with & that is the comment about how New Zealand has taken backward steps in childrens rights in particular in regards to lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. it should be down to 10 at least.

This shows how out of touch people writing reports can be. Whilst the first two subjects are actually there this part is way out of touch.

It is a fact that these days kids know at what age they can be charged or think they do & it is not common for them to confront even police officers with the words "you can't touch me".

Children are not sweet & innocent at 10 any more. Some have even been threatening to kill at 4 in the last year. Whilst a 4 year old might not understand fully the implications todays 10 year old does.
When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Yourself
I think first of all you need to deal with the top two issues before you can ever look at raising the age of responsibility.

Just like the issues of Treaty of Waitangi settlements the majority in New Zealand think that if they ignore child abuse & poverty they either don't exist or will go away.

Afraid that won't happen. People need to start getting off their butt's & start doing things. If they fail at least they tried.

Lets create jobs, lets create a safer environment for people to live in but lets just do something.
Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail (BK Currents (Paperback))
Leaving it to the politicians will never achieve anything.

Once thought about politics until I found out about the golden rule. "He who has the gold makes the rules" not the politicians.

But many who have the gold abuse the privilege. By doing that they create conditions for more to comit crime & therefore pass more control ot those with the gold.

It is not been rich that is the problem it is what you do with it!

How you make it work for you & your community!

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Just how well do we know the community we live in?

Kia Ora,

Been a busy couple of days but back to it again.

Had a call from a mate who said they sighted one of my adverts for the 0900 Suspicious service in the local 'Coffee News' free community news letter.They had pointed it out to their boss.

The boss though showed how little New Zealanders actually either know their community or just don't want to know.

"If we see something suspicious then we call the police. Why would we pay $15 plus GST to get someone around?"

Fair enough question but it doesn't fit with the facts.

A recent government study here in New Zealand showed at least 66% of crime is not reported. But as government statistics are the ones you should least trust you then go back a few years to a media outlet reporting that up to 95% of crime & 96% of violent crime are unreported in New Zealand.

I don't go on statistics, but on what I see, feel & hear around my community. Even where I live now I can still stun the people who live here & say there is no crime by relating incidents right in our complex. They just have no idea or no wish to see it.
Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online
So I know that crime is well up in our communities, but the people around me will say it is not happening or not in their area even after they have told me about a recent cirme a few minutes before.

As was related after a recent armed robbery within 24 hours staff at a site were seen to be letting people in with a full faced motorbike helmet been worn. The person telling me said "wouldn't happen overseas. two steps in & the place would be surrounded by police but not in New Zealand. It is like the incident within the last 24 hours never happened & it won't happen in New Zealand. Yeah right. It just did!"

Then there is the issue of calling the police. Until people have too they never know what the reality it like. Whilst the officers on the ground might understand why you have rung & especially the exprienced officers know it will impact on crime most of those taking the calls have no idea these days. They have a little check list & they stick to it.
Low Crimes and Misdemeanors: Confessions of a Tulsa Boy
Also as has been pointed out in the past the new police officer is now judged on arrests & tickets so that judgement goes up the chain of command. Not much likelyhood of an arrest then less likely to get a patrol.

Then there are those in the community that are aware & have been asking for a service like this. Without investment it just takes time to build it to where it can cover all those areas that would benefit most from such a service.

Most crime is actually committed in low income areas. Most burglaries are committed during the day not night as most people presume.

Overseas everybody is aware of crime & take appropriate precautions. Again this is where the comment about the likes of Christchurch been more dangerous than Baghdad come from. Because New Zealanders are in denial,our cities & towns are so spread out nice looking, everybody assumes it is virtually crime free. So it is a big shock when it isn't. Up until now there has been no reason, often there isn't & it is all so random.
Widger's Quotations of Dumas' Celebrated Crimes
Only place I know that could be said to be near crime free(even then there is more going on that people realize) & that is Singapore but there any crime is dealt with harshly & swiftly.

Just today on the morning news there was a comparison between the US 'Superbowl' with three arrests around the game, one for alcohol, & the sevens rugby in Wellington where 103 were arrested for mainly alcohol related crime. It was said the Wellington crowd was well behaved. That didn't include the numbers for those evicted for drunkeness.

We are in denial & we have real issues in our communities but nothing will happen until people start taking notice of what is actually going on around them demanding action or taking action.
High Crimes & Misdemeanors: The Impeachment Process (Crime, Justice and Punishment)
That is where the service offered comes in as to start the process you need people committed to putting their neck out there. Just the simple act of showing up recording suspicious activity will have an impact on the crime in a persons area. It also means in particular in the early stages any reaction will be at those prepared for it, not the general public.

In the long run though it will make communities safer. The Suspicious activity leds to the small crime which leds to the larger more violent crime.

First people just have to take notice of what is really going on.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

No Leadership! Tell us something we don't know!

Kia Ora,

Well big drive by the Christchurch 'Press' to try to pin down where the earthquake recovery is going. The fact it seems leaderless.

It is this passing the buck, lack of action that is frustrating people & causing anger to rise.

I see also that EQC are going to review the assessments of chattels as private insurance has been giving small payments saying the house is going to be demolished from what they can see yet EQC are saying it can be fixed(from descriptions I have had Mickey Mouse style). Results in huge difference in assessments, more frustration & anger.

Normally you would say it was private insurance trying to pay as little as possible, but having been in some properties where EQC has said they can be fixed I think not. Slapping some concrete out of a bucket with a paint brush to even out the bumps in the floor I have seen done in Asia & might be acceptable in Australia(as it was recommened by an Australian I take it, it is)but it is not here & not when more large earthquakes are overdue.

Even the Mayor of Christchurch has lost his zip & fallen into line with the status quo saying different leaders are needed for different areas. But there is a need for an overall leader. Not a new one but an existing one to step up.

Now the Mayor of Christchurch & two structural engineers said quite early on in interviews that the building code had done its job & saved lives it was not there to save a building.

Straight away to me that implies like any saftey equipment such as body armour, cycle or motorcycle helmets that once used for the purpose for which they were designed they have to be replaced. So this is a rebuild not a recovery.
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook
Instead of like Auckland or Wellington where recently Heritage buildings have been ordered demolished in hours when required Christchurch is still arguing over their merits five months later. Probably why someone asking for suggestions to get CBD going again didn't like my suggestion of bulldozing the whole lot & starting again.

By having so many 'leaders' who are as far as anyone can see showing no leadership nothing is getting done. With expected shocks to continue & even the predicted potential big shake around the 20th March 2011 (not to mention the earlier shake up around the 19th February 2011 based on the moon in Perigee) damage is worsening & showing how poor assessments are that have been done.

When green stickered(All OK) builidings have walls collapse it just tells people good shake from different direction or location can wreck anything or the initial assessments were not good enough.
Earthquake Engineering for Structural Design
All the theory in the world is great but it is the actual effect on the ground that matters.

The Minister for Earthquake Recovery is no better. He might officially live here, though for some reason wasn't here at time of the wee shake & never seems to be here except for visits as far as anyone can tell. People in his electorate are not happy. His efforts have been pitiful.

Now the Mayor of Christchurch in the aftermath of the earthquake & led up to the local body elections made a statement "I'm over democracy" or words to that effect. I would of though the current situation was right up his alley to prove his point.
Earthquake Engineering
When immediately after the main quake he had special powers & was able to get things done, but now it is committee after committee or commission & the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commission(CERC)has no power it just recommends.

Of course a Camel is a horse designed by a committee or as one businessman I think it was said "a commitee is a place where good ideas go to die" or words to that effect.

We don't need committee's or commissions we need action.

It has got so ridiculous that one business contracted into assist with the recovery went to set up in the location recommended by the council but is now waiting on resource consent from the council to set up. The earthquake recovery act was supposed to deal with issues like that quickly, efficiently as was the minister. Both have failed!
Earthquake Damage: Inspection, Evaluation and Repair
The media are only scratching the surface of what is been passed on by concerned structural engineers as to information that is been hidden from people. It gives the impression that they are been hard on those who represent us but in reality it appears to be "you scratch my back & I will scratch your back".

So say this predicted potential big quake does hit around 20th March 2011 & this time people are killed. What then to these bureaucrats & politicians who do nothing?

I would say the anger & frustration will definitely boil over. About that time to add to the stress people's payments to cover rent(for temporary accomodation) from insurance companies is due to run out. With no word on what these people, who are paying both mortgage & rent, will get to cover this shortfall as yet many are moving back into their condemmed houses. The worsening financial crisis is making things just more difficult.
Advances in Earthquake Engineering for Urban Risk Reduction
I have said it before New Zealand has become a Risk Adverse country.

People would say to me but you are always on about Health & Saftey & Risk Assessment.

There is a difference.

In a very early blog someone criticized me for not naming the system of Risk Assessment I use. Those systems are designed to give people an excuse not to do anything.

Where as the other day I saw an editors comment about how the person whom the movie 127 hours is about is one of those persons who just ignores the risks or words to that effect.
Earthquake-resistant Concrete Structures
Actually that is the New Zealand perception been wrong again.

In business, life, the military & working in places like Iraq. It is not about ignoring the risk, it is about assessing it, mitgating it whilst still carrying on & I suspect without seeing the movie that is what this person has done. New Zealand used to be like that but not anymore. It just seems risky because people lack the knowledge or haven't weighed up the Risks.

Actually as I was typing that it reminded me of Charles Upham VC & Bar when standing on top of a truck to direct fire duirng the battle of Minqar Qaim. It looked dangerous & foolhardy to those around him, but his assessment was all the German shots were going low, so he was safer up high.

That is why people don't like my risk assessments as they see them as it will be used as a reason not to do something.

In fact I am looking at it the other way. Here is the risk, mitigate it so we can have a good event or safe society. But people here do not want to know & even when something does happen, within hours people are acting like it never happened. If you asked many of those people they would tell you it never happens in New Zealand or where they are.

I know it happened the other day within 24 hours of an armed robbery where people allowed others to enter in a manner that could very well be another armed robbery at the same location. A non New Zealand citizen did their nut at the staff for allowing it.
Risk Assessment Methods: Approaches for Assessing Health and Environmental Risks
New Zealand has become like the US Military when I first went to Iraq to work. Hint of issues or a suicide bomber they would lock down the Green Zone for sometimes days which gave the initiative back to the terrorists & insurgents(I well remember one Irishman during such a time saying he was going to pushbike to the Baghdad airport to get his plane out).

Compare that to the British reaction(& the Iraqis did) which was to flood an area after a shooting or bombing with troops on foot asking questions "What did we do wrong? Who was it?" etc. Then play a game of soccer with the kids.

Risks of been shot or blown up hadn't changed but their reaction was to try to get things moving. The British themselves observed in the end they stayed too long & lost that goodwill.
Earthquake Risk Reduction
Seems to me we are retreating inside our fortress, doing a lot of talking but nothing is getting done. New Zealanders tend not to say a lot even when things are wrong as they don't want to stand out. So if a lot of people are now talking it is time to take note & take action. Get things done!

As former Mayor Gary Moore said when questioned in one of the articles "Do I still have a sense of hope? No" & I would say that is a sentiment shared by many in Christchurch at present because there is no action & there is no leadership.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

How Racist are we?

Kia Ora,

About 30 years ago there was an international prediction that New Zealand could be one of four countries where internal strife or civil war could break out in the South Pacific region. From memory it was Fiji, New Zealand & PNG with strife likely in Western Samoa.

Comment though was that in New Zealand it would not be a racial split, more on ideological grounds. For anyone that has been in the military in particular the NZ army(though I hear it is changing) we were all green. We used to (& still do when we meet) call each other by racist slang in particular around the US military who always had a problem with it. At least until they realized we never actually meant it.

Though as my faux pas in the Presidentail Palace car park in Baghdad shows you just have to be mindful of where you are. On exiting vehicle I was in, spied a large muscular Maori Gentleman(sure that is first time he has been called that) or a mate & yelled "So & so you bl..k c..t" when I was suddenly aware the whole place was frozen as everyone looked then waited for his reaction. He looked up seen me then just reacted like he would of any other time. "Bro ...".

One person is well known for showing up to meetings with a pillow case over their head with eyes cut out & a cross on his shoulder when he was the only pakeha(of European descent) in that unit. As far as I know no one ever took offence at it. It was just our sense of humour that something like that was accepted.

Why talk about this now?

Well it is Waitangi Day again(6th February) to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi & Professor Margaret Mutu has come out saying New Zealand has had racism since Pakeha arrived & that New Zealand will not move forward until that is addressed.

Now racism in Australia is quite open. So much so that Australians don't even realize they are doing it. But in some ways that is healthier.

It is quite openly racist both ways in the US too but it tends to be of the unhealthy kind. Australia though, as many of my mates have pointed out, is racist but if you do your job they just accept you for you & get on with things.
Pacific Migrant Labour, Class and Racism in New Zealand: Fresh Off the Boat (Research in Ethnic Relations)
In New Zealand it is very understated & not talked about or denied. If it is raised it is how racist all things are slanted towards Maori. Some of which can be quite amusing to hear as obviously the people involved have no idea what they are talking about.

Amusing in regards to the likes of the Maori seats in parliament. People often refer to these as been racist. They are & were formed on that basis so Maori could not be in control of the country as they would of been at the time been the majority land holders & in population.

So for now to have control beyond their populaton through entrenched Maori seats been called racist is quite ironic.
The Politics of Nostalgia: Racism and the Extreme Right in New Zealand
Now the Professors comments show an example of the different attitudes. The Australian channel Prime which shows here, had it as its first item. TV One news, the main news in New Zealand never even mentioned it. I am not sure what TV 3 thought of it.

But then it is not that simple either as there is these days obviously racism on both sides. Being of Maori descent but pale I get it from both sides. On the pakeha side because they only regard you as Maori if you are brown not by whakapapa which is the true identifier & so make comments(even after you point out you are Maori) that they would not make if my cousins were there.
Tauiwi: Racism and ethnicity in New Zealand
On the Maori side the comments directed at me because of my skin colour for which they are quickly pulled up & put right. The other area I see which some Maori play on is the perceived slight such as more arrests in the Christchurch CBD a few years back of Maori & Pacific Islanders.

Although I have it realiably from within police ranks about that time it was quite racist in thought(just reflecting the society they work in) in fact that issue had little to do with racism but more to do with wealth & costs.

Those figures changed once the police were ordered to arrest everyone causing issues. Suddenly 82% of those causing the mayhem were rich & white young males. Up to that stage(& I have both been told this by offenders as a security officer & heard the police told this)these same young males would state "I will get off, get dad's lawyer & ask for a jury trial" officers were just told to forget it by superiors as cost was too high. In the end police just stopped doing it as waste of time & paper work. So they just prosecuted the lower income group which tends to be high in proportion of Maori & Pacific Islanders.
Nga take: Ethnic relations and racism in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Not to mention there used to be an attitude amongst the low income groups of "do the crime do the time" & "the crime is getting caught". As any police officer is likely to tell you & it is the same with security you get more trouble with a person in a suit than a gang member in most situations. Many well dressed, well off people think they have the right to commit a crime or the rules don't apply to them & no one can touch them.

Where as a gang member will often once caught just think 'got caught not worth the hassle'.
Racism and Ethnicity (Critical Issues in New Zealand Society)
Racism in New Zealand though is another of those subjects like crime or our 'clean & green image' that are fallacies in this country & that need to be talked about.

But the New Zealand attitude is "this is a great country we don't have any of those problems & we will never have real bad crime or terrorism like overseas" yeah right they are already here.

Some will not like the use of the word Pakeha here as they find it offensive. That is because they are told it means 'white pig'. Actually it doesn't. No one is actually sure what it means anymore but it was once a term of great esteem.

At best it appears to have been a corruption of some Maori words such as those for Pa(fort) of white ghosts, or to do with the smell of the ship & its crew(you actually smell like the food you eat or its combination in the natural state) or the best I have heard is Maori at the time trying to get their tongue around the common expression they would of heard of bugger ya(you) which if you run together & say fast comes out like Pakeha.
Nga Patai : Racism and Ethnic Relations in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Of course on the other side there was the mistunderstanding that Maori was what people referred to themselves as. Maori means ordinary & no one would of identified as Maori but as Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou, Ngai Tahu, Waitaha or what ever Iwi(tribe) you came from. There was no such thing as Maori as a people.

Therein lies another issue the British thought they were signing with the Maori people, but Maori were only signing on behalf of their Iwi or more likely Hapu or whanau. Not all signed & some Iwi never signed at all, but the British attitude was once one person signed it was on behalf of all Maori people.

But then that is no different than the British identifying the language used in the court of the Emperor of China as Mandarin. There was no such dialect back then. What did happen was the officials across China for ease of communication used whatever the dialect of the Emperor at the time was.

The British termed these officials Mandarins so the language they spoke must be Mandarin or the official language. I think it was Jesuits tried to inform them other wise but being Catholics were dismissed as meddlers. From memory same group tried to assist in putting together of treaty here.
Disciplining the Savages
Like anything else the more we suppress them then at somestage they will come up & bite us on the rear. Both sides have to start talking & start listening. I think they will find in many instances they are actually on the same page just not listening or understanding. On others such as the Foreshore & Seabed as stated in a previous blog it might be very well the best option to ensure that area is in Maori hands with a caveat for all New Zealand citizes to use as the best way of protecting it for all.

But the politicians & those in power behind todays financial instituitions don't want us to understand each other. They would rather we are divided & arguing than trying to actually work together.

If a politician is giving you what you want look closely as they are probably doing quite the opposite & trouble will ensue.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Who is making ill informed comment?

Kia Ora,

Many people in particular of late have been accussed of making ill informed comments including myself. Especially when it has been in relation to the earthquake here in Canterbury. I know many of those comments have been made through what people have felt & as a way of expressing their frustration or also after looking into the issue.

Then we get the former ACT MP Stephen Franks like most politicians who speaks with little actual knowledge of the situation here in Canterbury or Christchurch from his comments.

In fact it is ill advised comments like his that could be the trigger for the building anger to be unleashed.

Now Mr Franks made the comment that the people of Canterbury have to harden up & instead of waiting for EQC to show up to just get things fixed. Many had wanted too.

It shows he is totally out of touch with the reality of the situation here. He is taking the attitude of many EQC assessors & the lazy incompetent body corporate representative I have to deal with here in a commercial premises.

First someone owns or lives in the property so they know the property & might have a huge commitment in it.

Then there is the fact everyone wanted to get on but the general belief was you had to leave the property as much as you could for EQC to look at it. In fact EQC assessors have said that if you can't see it, it isn't damaged! Body Corporate idiot had the same attitude even though I could distinctly hear the noise in the roof which has now appeared.
The Economics of Corruption and Bureaucratic Inefficiency in Weak States: Theory and Evidence (Kollektive Entscheidungen, Wirtschaftspolitik Und Offentliche Finanzen, 12)
Of course there is the on going after shocks or quakes that in many cases caused more damage if not the main damage on properties. Many are hanging off waiting for a proper check of the property to see what hidden damage either comes into view or is found(some assessors have used some equipment to find hidden damage).

In fact using this place as an example there were a few cracks in outwalls & some visible movement in the gib walls downstairs but nothing much else post the initial quake. I was most impressed. Since then by comparison quite substantial damage has appeared, much of it you can feel is there but not visible until a later quake.

There have been a few quakes today & one this evening that really moved the place.
Bureaucratic Corruption and Underdevelopment in the Third World (Pergamon policy studies on international development)
Now Mr Franks & the party he once represented in Parliament would rather less government & things more in private hands.

Great idea in theory as in theory Private enterprise is more efficient.

But that has been debunked by two examples.

First the US were though there has been some spectacular growth under private ownership much of the infrastructure has been run down to where there have been examples of cascading blackouts as the system failed. Similar to the way Toll milked the NZ rail system after buying it dirt cheap then sold it back to the government at a huge profit & the government now have to pump more cash in to rebuild the infrastructure.

The other example is the privatization of some New Zealand departments or move to SOE's (State owned enterprises) has resulted again in neglect of infrastructure & the loss of customer service.
Bureaucratic corruption in Asia--causes, consequences, and controls
At the same time overall poor customer service has spread into the public service overall & then to society in New Zealand in general.

So that all adds to the frustration & building anger.

Before Mr Franks comments again maybe he wants to be here prior to the 20th of March 2011 in case the predicted biggish shake does eventuate. I could almost guarantee that someone who comments like Mr Franks would be the first trying to get out before that date if we get some good ones prior.

Yes it is not of the scale of the Queensland floods or Cyclone Yasi & there have not been so far any deaths here. It is not even in the same league as the Pike River Mine disaster in that regards. But what is has that no other does is it just keeps coming. Quake after quake.
Some implications of the unofficial economy-bureaucratic corruption relationship in transition countries [An article from: Economics Letters]
Many people are edgy, frustrated & angry & comments like those from Mr Franks are unhelpful as much as the extremely poor government response & corrupt bureaucrats of the type Mr Franks thinks should be in charge of most aspects of what is now government departments or the relief efforts.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Which Experts to listen too?

Kia Ora,

These days all we hear is 'they have the advice of the experts', but which experts do we listen too.

For example the experts over the earthquakes here can't even agree what has happened, what is going to happen & if there is a faultline under Christchurch (depsite one report talking about the Addington fault rupturing in the mid 1800's after this quake struck).

What prompted this post though was the front page article in the Christchurch 'Press' about the security hole in internet explorer.

Now this was one of the first things we received a warning about on arrival to work in Iraq from the US military. There are security issues with internet explorer, yahoo messenger & msn messenger we recommend you do not use them. This was in 2004.

Now for years there had been a rumour that there were holes so the US military could access your computer so thought it might be a good idea to listen.

Since then I find if you go onto European security sites they detect if you have internet explorer or not & you get a well done if say using Firefox.

Then there has been the odd clipping about European countries such as Denmark issuing a warning.
National security on the Web.(online material): An article from: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Meanwhile back here in New Zealand almost every issue I have had with some software has been put down to not having internet explorer. Often been told I need to have it to which the reply has gone along the lines "you can't actually tell me that as has been proven in court cases in Europe & the US. Anyway it is poor security."

Until today, when internet security experts have being seen quoted on TV, I am always told that they or their internet security expert have no knowledge of this & there is no issue. All of a sudden they are experts on it!

So it has taken nearly seven years for New Zealand internet security experts to catch up with what we found out in 2004.

Others have blamed the anti virus I use & said I need to turn it off! What person involved in the internet security tells someone to turn off their anti virus?
The Future of the Internet--And How to Stop It
This has resulted in a very good personal phone call from the CEO of the providers of the anti virus Chillisoft where their exasperation at been held to blame for others short comings was quite evident.

When it comes to internet security I do what I can but it is not my field of experience but it appears a lot of 'experts' have less knowledge than I do which is a real worry & try to baffle people with bullshit.

Personally I have a lot of knowledge of security & many different experiences but would never like to call myself an expert. As much as I will give my opinion there will always be someone else with more or different experiences that can be brought to bear.

The problem with a lot of them they have never actually been at the coal face so their views are not in line with what is reality.
Electronic Commerce: Technical, Business, and Legal Issues
Like many would not be aware that in the local area there have been two armed robberies not generally known about or a series of burglaries also not widely known about. Burglaries well that is normal until(if) they get to court, but at least until recently it seems if the police know about serious crime the media are informed shortly after in this country. That appears to be changing.

With the lack of coal face experience they wouldn't of picked up the two appearing to be casing the banks or the person that appears to be homeless hanging around.

How can someone be an expert when they have never experienced the situation or the issues that arise?

So who do you trust?

The 'expert' with the graphs & statistics to back them up or the person with the experience & anecdotes to back it up? Personally the person with experience will get my vote.

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz

Pushing the legalized Theft!

Kia Ora,

Well at present there is a huge push here in New Zealand on the legalized theft road. You have all sorts of financial 'experts' & the government pushing Kiwisaver or our superannuation scheme.

The reason it is legalized theft is the world has changed, these people did well during the boom times but have not realized it & anyone partaking in the scheme will lose out.

Straight away any US readers will be starting to understand this as their 401K's are sinking in value in the main & I understand there is debate over whether the government will stop people taking from these plans to prop up the economy. Thing is that decision was made some time back by the oversight body for those funds 401K's trade in.

The funds have the power to stop paying out in order to bail out the banks was how it was presented by a financial commentator sometime back.

So first you have inflation making the value of any currency you have in your retirement savings worth less each day as the world continues to 'print' fiat currency(currency backed by nothing more than a promise & promises of governments are worth exactly that-nothing) & now they are stealing it legally to prop up those that have ruined the economy.

Australians tell me they were starting to see the same issue of their Superannuation funds falling in value & making lossess. The Australian government got crafty after the complaints & allowed people to control their own funds. I would say they will still be paying fees to the fund managers for allowing them to hold their currency for them. Also how many of those who take up that option actually know how to invest?

I would bet most will have their currency in property because of the view that property always goes up. It doesn't. They need to understand the cycles & trade them to get ahead.
Self Managed Superannuation Funds
Even here in New Zealand after only a few short years Kiwisaver is now making losses.

Yet the big push is on to get as many people signed up as possible.

A mate tells me that in the US right now you can drive into cities & see virtually on every street homeless people including whole families. Recently 60 minutes had a clip on 401K's been near worthless & executives out of work looking for any type of work going.

So crime will be on the rise but will the police respond? Their cars are getting repossessed & gas stations are refusing to refill police cars as local or state governments are not paying the fuel bills.
Superannuation Funds Management in Australia - Industry Market Research Report
There are reported to be 100 cities in the US on the verge of bankruptcy with the state of California(worlds eigth largest economy) about to go the same way as Greece, Ireland & Portugal.

The US then is heading towards the same road as Tunisia, Eygpt, Yemen, Jordan, Bangladesh, India with protests over the likes of rising food prices, corruption & people have just had enough.

Never happen in New Zealand though. Yeah right.

One thing that hit me on leaving the army & moving into the security industry was just how many 'unseen' people there were in this country. In particular those living on the streets many who had mental ilnesses.
Superannuation in the Civil Service: Report of a Special Committee of the National Civil-Service Reform League
In the last week though I have noticed a disturbing trend here in New Zealand. Now I always maintain that most crime is actually not reported. But usually it is not reported to the police. How about the police not reporting it to the media?

I am aware of an armed robbery that took place approximately a week a go that has still not been reported in the media here. More often than not they are though I had noticed a delay in reporting starting to creep in.

Then on driving in to my local mall got this feeling about someone sitting in a vehicle. After a while in security, like the police you get feelings about certain people which are usually right.

After entering the mall I suddenly notice a guy looking similar walk in. Had what appeared to be a walkman/MP3 earphones in but then noticed one side was clipped to his lapel & he was talking into it.
Rewarding Service: A History of the Government Superannuation Fund
Quick check other person was still in vehicle taking a keen interest in area of the banks. Went of to see if I could find mall security, suddenly find second person walking through mall & obviously scanning for something he went straight through & out.

This was all passed onto Mall management.

Few days later see another person scanning the car park & area where shortly after an armoured cash vehicle parked up. Saw this person again yesterday hanging around whilst talking to mall security.

As we were talking realized this person wasn't probably looking to commit a crime though it may come to that. They were homeless or at best on a benefit with no prospects & no cash.
The Birth of a Pension Scheme: A History of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (E. Allison Peers Lectures)
At this time the only people who have noticed this person are those of us in security or the cleaners(great eyes & ears) but as the legalized theft continues you are going to see more & more people living on the streets with no prospects.

People will get desperate as government cuts will mean they have access to less & less help & therefore crime will rise or eventually we get the situation of an Eygpt.

Notice the last couple of books I have put in here are about government or university pension schemes. It now appears that at least in the US if you were a civil servant your pension is paid before the state, city or even government pays its bills.

Which is particularly worrying for the US because all the cash put into social security was 'borrowed' by as I understand it the Clinton administration so is an off book expense that they have to keep paying. That is why some commentators are saying the real debt in the US is US$200 Trillion not US$14.5 Trillion as the official amount is quoted.

So you combine this legalized theft with incompetent corrupt bureaucrats & politicians manipulating the people all you need is a trigger.

In Tunisia it was a black market food seller trying to make ends meet to feed his family. Here is might just be the idiot at NZ Post saying they never lose information when they quite obviously do. The trigger will usually be something minor though but some when people have just had enough. Right now in New Zealand that could be easily on the West Coast over the Pike River Mine disater or here in Christchurch over the extremely poor government response to the earthquake.

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