Are you Dead?

Weird question……. Hell I’m a weird person, so I suppose it’s normal for me to have weird questions.

I always worry when people disappear from my digital life, they come, they make an impression, (or you wouldn’t be worrying about them) and they go. Not in the, I hate you, I don’t agree with you way ………… but just *POOF* gone and it makes me worry.

People say why worry? I worry! Just because it may be someone I’ve never met In Real Life (IRL) but someone I’ve met through a computer screen. They are real people even if some say it’s not like these people are your friends. I consider them a friend, the only difference is they are a digital friend – I may not share what I do with IRL friends, but you still share a little bit of you every time you communicate.

One memorable case for me, someone had obviously got sick of social networking, so they posted

‘It's not you, it's me. 999 days together (that went quick!) but I need a break. If you need me, you know where to find me.”

Now this works for me, it tells me they are okay (well you hope so) and that perhaps they’ll be back, perhaps they won’t, but at least you know they are okay.

Whilst writing this blog post – I realised that someone else has gone and done the *POOF* thing. It wasn’t until I asked others that I found a website etc.

Because 90% of my work (and my relaxation) time is computer orientated, I use social networking like the proverbial water cooler and will often pop in and talk to a variety of people, the conversations often aren’t very deep, but they are enough to make someone smile or laugh and that could be the highlight of someone’s day.

For me social networking is not just about advertising oneself (which I rarely do) It’s not about spamming the people you talk to. It’s about communicating with people who have similar interests, worries, concerns or even just strange animals! (Yup, animals can define who you are too!)

So next time you take a hiatus from social networking, let someone know, if you decide to change your name, let people know also – it may seem a small thing for you – but some people do care. Perhaps you run a business and use your business name as your name on social networking – suddenly, you can no longer be traced. (That’s not a good business practice!)

Someone sitting behind a computer a screen does care, even if sometimes it appears they don’t.

Enjoy the day and remember treat others as you wish to be treated!

My Favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment Apollo Bay, through the flowers to the Beach (20110128)

Silouette Kangaroo Puppets (2011) (This photo is real and not photshopped in ANY WAY!)

  The Fish that didn't get away - the 13yo was the proud owner of one 2kg snapper! (20100121)

The port side of the Marthas Cove Port entry at Dawn (20101121)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

My favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

Reflection caught in a puddle (20101125)

Once there was a branch, now there is none (20101122)
  Same tree, this time looking skyward (20101122)
 
Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

My Favourite Photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

Bottle brush in afternoon light (20101122)

Bottle Bruch in late afternoon light (20101122)

Kangaroo Silouette (20101123)

Kanagroo in Silohuette (20101123)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

Are you a fake?

Have you every claimed someone else’s hard work as your own? Ever taken something and claimed it as your own? Every worked together with someone and then taken the collaborative work and claimed it as your own? Has someone ever given you something in good faith and you’ve failed to carry through with the promise you made to them?

If you’ve ever done anything like that – YOU ARE A FAKE.

I want everyone to remember, that Karma is a Bitch and she bides her time – you’ve heard that revenge is a dish best served cold, well the good girl Karma knows how to serve that dish.

My reason for writing this is because I built something, I created something and I gave it to someone in the good faith they would do what needs to be done. They have now cut me from their life, they have ceased all communication and I feel used and dirty.

I trust people – I trust that there is more good than bad in this world. I’m renowned for working solo and now I know why.

I hope that this person who is claiming to be something they are not, who is using goods that are not their own and claiming the hard work of others as their own realises before it’s too late that Karma is a Bitch, because SHE bites.

Enjoy the day and remember tomorrow may never come, or if it does, it may be totally different to what you expected yesterday.

My Favourite photos of the week

Taken by me for your enjoyment

Sunset, near Whittlesea (20101122)

Kinglake ranges from the West, late in the afternoon (20101122)
  Squeaky beach on Wilsons Prom. (20101023)

Squeaky Beach on Wilsons Prom (20101023)

Please do NOT copy any of the photos on this blog - if you would like to use any photos, please leave a comment with contact details, Photos will be supplied without watermark and at full size. All comments are moderated and won't be shown to the public. Thank-you

Please note that no photo has been photoshopped on this blog, cropped yes, photoshopped NO!

Enjoy all of natures beauty!

Please visit Redbubble, perhaps there is something there you would like to purchase. Refer the photos below!

I have Private Health Insurance .......... but for how long?

I haven’t always had private health insurance, not because I chose not to – but because I couldn’t afford to. Now that I can afford private health insurance, I’ve taken it up (as is ‘my duty’) but I am struggling to afford it.

Firstly I’m being penalised because I delayed signing up after I turned 30 (because of finances, due to injuries that prevented me from working.) I joined as soon as I could afford to.

It means that I have a 10-15% loading (penalty) because I delayed. So with every hike in insurance costs, I get a further 10-15% penalty.

Alright – so the government said everyone MUST be insured and if you’re not – we are going to penalize you.

What about a ‘reward’ if you stay signed up for 12+ months? Something like, alright we penalise you for the time it takes you to sign up for health insurance, BUT for every 12 months you stay joined, you get a 1-2% discount every year. Until you are back to the regular rates. You’d still be penalised but not at a rate that may eventually cause you to drop out of said health policy?

Let’s play pretends (with nice round figures)

M’ship length - - Pr Mnth $ - - - % Penalty - - - Total cost - - - Discount - - - Total
1yr - - - - - - - - - -$200 - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $220 - - - - - - - 1% - - - - - $218
2yrs - - - - - - - - - $210 - - - - - - - -10% - - - - - - $231 - - - - - - - - 2% - - - - -$226
3yrs - - - - - - - - - $220 - - - - - - - -10% - - - - - - $242 - - - - - - - - 3% - - - - - $235
4yrs - - - - - - - - - $230 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - -$253 - - - - - - - - 4% - - - - - $243
5yrs - - - - - - - - - $240 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $264 - - - - - - - - 5% - - - - - $251
6yrs - - - - - - - - - $250 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $275 - - - - - - - - 6% - - - - - $259
7yrs - - - - - - - - - $260 - - - - - - - - 10% - - - - - - $286 - - - - - - - - 7% - - - - - $266

So in 8-10 years, things would be back to normal and you might be enticed to stay in said health policy rather than dumping out because you can no longer afford to stay and pay both the yearly hikes and the penalty.

What say you? Are you being penalised the same as me – or don’t you have private insurance because you can’t afford to have it?

I’m beginning to wonder if $250 a month is really worth it – would I be better off putting that money in a high-interest earnings account, paying the 48% interest for having savings in the bank and use that if I need to?

Would love your thoughts.

Noting that I found this artical regarding lifetime health cover loading AKA LHC. There is no expections, no exclusions, and there is a further 2% levy if you fail to maintain your cover (even if due to financial hardship) NO EXEMPTIONS.